Leucotome

Leucotome is a surgical instrument used in psychosurgery, specifically in a procedure known as leucotomy or lobotomy. The leucotome was first introduced by the Portuguese neurologist Egas Moniz in the 1930s.

History[edit | edit source]

The leucotome was developed as a tool to perform leucotomies, a form of psychosurgery that involves severing connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe. The procedure was first performed by Egas Moniz in 1935. Moniz was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1949 for his discovery of the therapeutic value of leucotomy in certain psychoses.

Design and Function[edit | edit source]

The leucotome is a slender instrument with a retractable wire loop at one end. The loop can be extended to cut through brain tissue, and then retracted to minimize damage to surrounding areas. The leucotome is inserted into the brain through small holes drilled into the skull.

The leucotome was designed to be less invasive than previous methods of psychosurgery, which often involved large incisions and removal of substantial amounts of brain tissue. However, the procedure still carried significant risks, including infection, brain damage, and changes in personality or cognitive function.

Criticism and Decline in Use[edit | edit source]

The use of the leucotome and the practice of leucotomy have been widely criticized. Many medical professionals and ethicists argue that the procedure is inhumane and that it often causes more harm than good. By the 1950s, the use of leucotomy had declined significantly, largely due to the development of antipsychotic medications.

Today, the leucotome is largely a historical artifact, a reminder of a controversial period in the history of psychiatry and neurosurgery. Modern psychosurgery is performed using much more precise techniques, and only in rare cases where all other treatment options have failed.

File:Leucotome.jpg

A leucotome, a surgical instrument used in leucotomy