亚洲自慰视频

Skip to main content

What Is Deep Brain Stimulation?

You might be reading this because you have one of the following conditions:

While not a cure for any disease, deep brain stimulation (DBS) can help control your symptoms for better physical and mental wellbeing.

Is Deep Brain Stimulation Right for You?

You may be a candidate for DBS if your meet the following criteria:

  • You have troubling "off" periods when your Parkinson's medication wears off before the next dose can be taken.
  • Your medications aren鈥檛 effectively managing your symptoms for essential tremor, epilepsy, or OCD.
  • You are in good physical health.

If you鈥檙e considering DBS, it鈥檚 also important to have realistic expectations. The surgery requires frequent monitoring and doctor visits (at least initially). Patients should not expect a cure, but rather an improvement in symptoms or symptom control. Other key factors include good physical health, a solid support system, and realistic expectations for treatment outcomes.

"I'm only 66 years old, and I have a husband, four kids, and 13 grand亚洲自慰视频ren to enjoy. I have been given my life back, I just can't tell you. There's no way to thank my health care team for all that they've done for me."
Susan Veater Deep brain stimulation patient

Find a Neurosurgeon

Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery

Deep brain stimulation surgery involves three components:

  • A pacemaker-like device called a pulse generator
  • Thin wires called leads or electrodes that enter the brain
  • Wires called 鈥渓ead extenders鈥 that connect the electrodes in the brain to the pulse generator in the chest

Your surgeon will implant all three components inside your body. They will also use MRI technology to identify exactly which part or parts of your brain are causing your symptoms. This is where the electrodes will be targeted. You will most likely receive general anesthesia, which means you鈥檒l be asleep throughout DBS surgery. 

In the past, patients stayed awake during the procedure (which is possible because the brain has no pain receptors), but many were understandably too nervous to explain how the electrodes affected their speech and body movement. Now doctors can rely on imaging, rather than patient feedback, to understand what鈥檚 happening as they operate and to make sure the electrodes are in the right place.

Deep Brain Stimulation Risks

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks and potential complications:

  • Infection (that can occur in four percent of patients implanted with a neuromodulation device)
  • Bleeding
  • Stroke caused by DBS electrodes

You could also experience temporary pain and swelling in the implantation site, seizure, headache, confusion and difficulty concentrating. The neurotransmitter could also break or malfunction, which would require another surgical operation.

DBS and 笔补谤办颈苍蝉辞苍鈥檚

For 笔补谤办颈苍蝉辞苍鈥檚, your surgeon will make a dime-sized incision in your skull to implant the leads directly into a deep part of your brain. If that makes you nervous, know that this is a highly established procedure that has only improved since the Food and Drug Administration first approved its treatment of movement disorders in 1997. 

DBS and Essential Tremor

For essential tremor, DBS works similarly to DBS for 笔补谤办颈苍蝉辞苍鈥檚. However, your doctor might also recommend focused ultrasound鈥攖hat is, using ultrasound sound waves to affect the same part of the brain but with no cuts or incisions.

DBS and Epilepsy

For epilepsy, doctors at the 亚洲自慰视频 of Utah target a different part of the brain than for 笔补谤办颈苍蝉辞苍鈥檚 or essential tremor, called the anterior nucleus of the thalamus. This is effective at reducing the frequency of seizures and improving quality of life.

DBS Surgery Recovery Time

After surgery, most patients stay overnight at the hospital and return home the next day. Then, you鈥檒l come back four to six weeks later to have your device programmed to deliver the right amount of electrical stimulation for you and your symptoms.

When everything is functioning properly, the pulse generator sends electrical impulses to the electrodes. These impulses interfere with and block the electrical signals that cause your symptoms.

DBS surgery isn鈥檛 a cure for movement disorders, epilepsy, or OCD, but it can give you a new lease on life.

Next Steps

If you would like to find out more information about DBS surgery, you will need to get a referral. You do this by seeing your primary care doctor or neurologist and requesting to see a neurosurgeon specializing in DBS.

Meet Our Patients

Hear From Our Specialists

Effective Surgical Treatments for Severe Depression and OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are chronic and disabling conditions that can adversely impact your ability to function. When standard treatments fail, many suffering from OCD and MDD explore surgical treatment options. Neurosurgeon Ben Shofty, MD, discusses how advancements can potentially change the lives of people who suffer from these treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders.

Learn About Brain Surgery for Treatment-Resistant Mental 亚洲自慰视频 Disorders

The Benefits of Deep Brain Stimulation for Patients With Parkinson's Disease

For patients with Parkinson's disease, deep brain stimulation can provide many benefits. These patients may not be responding to medications or other therapy, which is when DBS may be an option.

Read About the Benefits