Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a cutting-edge therapy for movement disorders, such as dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, and simple tremors. This technique has recently been shown to be very useful in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
DBS entails the placement of electrodes in specific regions of the patient’s brain. Electrical impulses are produced by these electrodes, which are used to control irregular impulses. Alternatively, electrical impulses in the brain may trigger specific cells and compounds. A pacemaker-like system implanted under the skin in the patient’s upper chest controls the amount of stimulation in deep brain stimulation.
A team of experts, including a neurologist, a neuro-psychologist, and a neurosurgeon, will assess the patient’s condition to see whether surgery is a viable choice. The patient’s thoughts and memory, as well as his or her existing medications and overall health, will be assessed. The patient will then be videotaped while on and off medication performing a series of gestures (walking, finger tapping, rising from a chair, etc.). The electrodes are implanted in the brain and the whole procedure takes 5 to 7 hours. Also know, What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
The procedure of deep brain stimulation
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The patient is provided with a special head frame for the brain surgery part of the operation to hold the patient’s head still (stereotactic head frame). The team then uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to map the brain and pinpoint the location of the electrodes in the patient’s brain.
Surgery may be performed under general anesthesia, which renders the patient unconscious. The operation may also be performed while the patient is awake and alert. If the patient is awake for surgery, a local anesthetic will be administered to numb the patient’s scalp before the operation, but the patient will not require an anesthetic in the brain since the brain has no pain receptors.
A thin wire lead with several contacts (electrodes) at the tips is implanted into a particular region of the patient’s brain by the surgeon. Alternatively, one lead may be inserted on either side of the brain (for a total of two leads). A wire connects a pulse generator (neurostimulator) inserted near the collarbone to the patient’s skin. Both the neurologist and the surgeon keep a close eye on the patient’s brain during surgery to ensure proper electrode placement.
Chest wall surgery – The surgeon inserts the part of the unit that contains the batteries (pulse generator) under the skin in the chest, near the patient’s collarbone, during the second part of the operation. During this operation, general anesthesia is used. Under the patient’s skin, wires from the brain electrodes are directed down to the battery-operated pulse generator.
The generator is set up to transmit electrical pulses to the brain in a continuous loop. The generator is under the control of the patient, who can use a special remote control to switch it on and off.
DBS surgery Cost
MediGence helps the patients to explore the healthcare industry across the world, thus helping them to find the best hospitals, health practitioners, and cutting-edge technology at a low cost. DBS surgery price is generally determined by several factors, including:
- The number of days a patient spends in the hospital.
- Appropriate checks and medical costs
- The experience and skills of the DBS neurosurgeon and their team
- Cost of buying DBS equipment such as electrodes, pulse generators, and hand-held computers.
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