Deep brain stimulation

Overview

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) involves implanting electrodes within areas of the brain. The electrodes produce electrical impulses that affect brain activity to treat certain medical conditions. The electrical impulses also can affect cells and chemicals within the brain that cause medical conditions.

The amount of stimulation in deep brain stimulation is controlled by a pacemaker-like device placed under the skin in the upper chest. A wire that travels under the skin connects this device to the electrodes in the brain.

Deep brain stimulation is commonly used to treat a number of conditions, such as:

Parkinson's disease.
Essential tremor.
Conditions that cause dystonia, such as Meige syndrome.
Epilepsy.
Tourette syndrome.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Deep brain stimulation also is being studied as a potential treatment for:

Chorea, such as Huntington's disease.
Chronic pain.
Cluster headache.
Dementia.
Depression.
Addiction.
Obesity.

Why it's done

Deep brain stimulation is an established treatment for people with movement conditions. These conditions include essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and dystonia. It's also used for psychiatric conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. And deep brain stimulation has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment to reduce seizures in hard-to-treat epilepsy.

Deep brain stimulation is used in people whose symptoms aren't controlled with medicines.

Risks

Deep brain stimulation is generally considered to be low risk. But any type of surgery has the risk of complications. Also, brain stimulation itself can cause side effects.

Surgery risks

Deep brain stimulation involves making small holes in the skull to implant the electrodes into brain tissue. The procedure also includes surgery to implant a pacemaker-like device under the skin in the chest. This device contains the batteries needed for deep brain stimulation. Complications of surgery may include:

Misplacement of the wires with the electrodes, known as leads.
Bleeding in the brain.
Stroke.
Infection.
Trouble breathing.
Nausea.
Heart problems.
Seizure.

Possible side effects after surgery

Side effects associated with deep brain stimulation may include:

Seizure.
Infection.
Headache.
Confusion and trouble concentrating.
Stroke.
Hardware complications, such as an eroded lead wire.
Temporary pain and swelling at the implantation site.

A few weeks after the surgery, the device is turned on and the process of finding the best settings for you begins. Some settings may cause side effects, but these often improve with further changes of your device.

There have been rare reports that DBS therapy affects the movements needed for swimming. Talk to a healthcare professional before planning to swim and make sure to take water safety precautions.

Possible side effects of stimulation

Numbness or tingling sensations.
Muscle tightness of the face or arm.
Trouble with speech.
Trouble with balance.
Lightheadedness.
Vision changes, such as double vision.
Mood changes, such as anger, mania and depression.

How you prepare

First, weigh the pluses and minuses

Deep brain stimulation is a serious and potentially risky procedure. If you're eligible for deep brain stimulation, weigh the risks and potential benefits with your healthcare team.

Next, prepare for surgery

Before surgery, you'll likely need medical tests to make sure that deep brain stimulation is a safe and good option for you. You also may need brain-imaging studies, such as an MRI, before the surgery. These studies help to map the areas of your brain where the electrodes are implanted.

What you can expect

During the procedure

In general, here's how surgery for deep brain stimulation works:

Brain surgery. For the brain surgery, your care team fits you with a special head frame called a stereotactic head frame. The frame keeps your head still during the procedure. Then, neuroimaging such as brain MRI or CT is used to map your brain. The imaging pinpoints the proper area in your brain to place the electrodes.

Most often, the electrodes are placed while you're awake and alert. This is to be sure the effects of stimulation can be tested fully. If you're awake for surgery, you'll likely be given a local anesthetic to numb your scalp before the procedure. You won't need an anesthetic in your brain itself because the brain has no pain receptors. In some people, surgery can be done using a medicine that puts you to sleep, known as general anesthesia.

Your surgeon implants a thin wire lead with several electrodes at the tips. The lead is placed into a specific area of your brain. Some people have leads implanted into each side of the brain for a total of two leads. A wire runs under your skin to a device called a pulse generator implanted near your collarbone.

During surgery, both the neurologist and the surgeon carefully monitor your brain to help ensure correct electrode placement.
Chest wall surgery. During the second part of the surgery, the surgeon implants the pulse generator under the skin of the chest, near the collarbone. This part of the device contains the batteries.

A medicine that puts you to sleep, known as general anesthesia, is used during this procedure. Wires from the brain electrodes are placed under your skin and guided down to the battery-operated pulse generator.

Several weeks after surgery, the generator is programmed during an appointment with your healthcare professional. After it's programmed, the generator sends continuous electrical pulses to your brain. You control the generator and can turn it on or off using a special remote control.

After the procedure

A few weeks after surgery, the pulse generator in your chest is activated, often in your healthcare professional's office. The pulse generator can be programmed from outside your body using a special remote control. The amount of stimulation is customized to your condition. It may take as long as 4 to 6 months to find the optimal setting.

Stimulation may be constant, 24 hours a day. Or you may be told to turn the pulse generator off at night and back on in the morning. This depends on your condition. You can turn stimulation on and off with a remote control that you take home with you. Sometimes the pulse generator may be programmed to let you make minor changes at home.

The battery life of the pulse generator varies with how often it's used and its settings. When the battery needs to be replaced, your surgeon will replace the generator during an outpatient procedure.

Results

Deep brain stimulation won't cure your condition, but it may help lessen your symptoms. While your symptoms may improve enough to make a difference, they often don't go away completely. Medicines may still be needed for certain conditions.

Deep brain stimulation isn't successful for everyone. Its success relies on several factors. Talk with a healthcare professional before surgery about what type of improvement you can expect.