Deep Brain Stimulation Cost in India

Deep Brain Stimulation in India

Deep brain stimulation is a surgical procedure that involves implanting a medical device called a brain pacemaker beneath the collarbone in the skin of the chest. The pacemaker, also known as an implanted pulse generator (IPG), transmits electrical impulses to particular regions of the brain to assist treat nervous system problems that are otherwise resistant to treatment, such as chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, stiffness, tremors, dyskinesia, and dystonia.

DBS surgery has the advantage of causing no injury to brain tissue, unlike other operations such as pallidotomy or thalamotomy. The DBS treatment is also reversible.

Quick Facts About DBS

• During the DBS procedure, surgeons implant one or more small wires (called leads or electrodes) in the brain.
• A tiny pulse generator implanted in the chest provides gentle electrical stimulation to the leads.
• Successful DBS surgery necessitates careful patient selection, precise electrode insertion, and pulse generator modification.
• DBS cannot completely alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease or other illnesses, but it can help patients take fewer medications and have a better quality of life.

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Who is a Candidate for Deep Brain Stimulation?

You may be a candidate for DBS surgery if you have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and have had disabling dyskinesia or dystonia, if you have had OCD or tremors for the previous 5 years, and if pharmacological therapy and other interventions have failed to relieve your symptoms.

Who is not a candidate for DBS?

DBS surgery is not appropriate for everyone suffering from Parkinson's disease or other movement problems. If a person is a good candidate for DBS, they should speak with a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders.

These factors make a person a less-than-ideal candidate for DBS surgery:

• Difficulty with balance, walking, or "freezing" as the main disabling symptoms.
• A primary symptom of speech difficulty.
• Continuous confusion and problems with memory and thinking.
• A psychiatric condition such as depression or anxiety that has not improved or stabilized with other treatment.
• Another condition that increases the risk for surgery complications.

Some of these issues might be able to be treated. A person who has one or more of these disorders is not automatically disqualified for future DBS surgery, but the doctor may recommend more active therapy to address these concerns before surgery.

How is DBS surgery done?

What Results Can I Expect After DBS Surgery?

The majority of patients report considerable improvement in their symptoms and a significant reduction in their medication after surgery. Patients are encouraged to continue taking the medicine for a few weeks following DBS and then gradually taper off.

What is the Recovery after DBS Surgery Like?

You may feel tired after surgery, and there may be some inflammation and soreness at the stitch site, which can be treated with medications. You can expect a quick recovery, though some patients may experience disorientation for a few days following surgery.

The average hospital stay following DBS surgery is 24 hours, however, this can vary depending on how quickly the patient recovers and is ready to return home. The doctor will come to see the patient, make sure they are ready to leave, and give them advice for home care.

After you are released from the hospital, it's critical to keep the incisions clean and dry at home. While the surgery site heals, the doctor will give the patient particular instructions on how to bathe. If stitches are present, they will be removed during a subsequent visit. If adhesive strips are used, they should be kept dry and will usually peel off after a few days.

The patient will be given a magnet to use to switch the neurostimulator on and off according to their doctor's instructions.

How and When is the Programming of the Neurostimulator done?

The patient will return to the doctor after the DBS lead(s) and neurostimulator are in place to have the neurostimulator programmed for optimal electrical stimulation. Although some clinicians activate the neurostimulator before the patient is discharged from the hospital following surgery, programming usually begins a few weeks after the DBS procedure.

Programming takes time, and modifying the neurostimulator settings may require multiple appointments. Simultaneously, the doctors will review the patient's prescriptions and dosages to ensure that the drugs function in tandem with the electrical stimulation to control symptoms.

The neurostimulator is powered by a battery that lasts three to five years on average. When the neurostimulator's battery runs out, doctors can replace it in an outpatient surgery. There are also rechargeable neurostimulators, which last longer but must be recharged on a regular basis.

What Precautions Do I Need to Take After DBS Implantation?

• Always keep a card on you that says you have a DBS neurostimulator. You may also choose to wear a medical identity bracelet with this information on it.
• Before going through the airport scanners, anyone who uses a neurostimulator should inform airport security screeners. Many airport detectors are safe for pacemakers, but the neurostimulator's small quantity of metal may cause the alarm to go off. Patients who have been chosen for additional screening with hand-held detector devices should politely remind the screeners that the detector wand should not be held over the neurostimulator for more than a few seconds, as these devices contain magnets that could interfere with the neurostimulator's function or programming.
• Certain MRI procedures may not be available to patients who have leads or neurostimulators. Patients should always consult their doctor before undergoing any sort of MRI, while DBS may be compatible with MRI in some cases. They should stay away from sites with strong magnetic fields, such as power generators and car junkyards with enormous magnets.
• Heat should not be used in physical therapy for patients who have had DBS surgery.
• High-voltage or radar machinery, such as radio or television transmitters, electric arc welders, high-tension wires, radar installations, or smelting furnaces, should also be avoided.
• Patients who are scheduled for surgery should inform their surgeon ahead of time if they are using a neurostimulator. Because equipment such as the electrocautery device that controls bleeding may interfere with the neurostimulator, it is critical to get guidance on extra precautions before and during surgery.
• Patients should protect the neurostimulator area from injuries when participating in physical, recreational, or sports activities. A blow to the chest near the pacemaker can interfere with its operation, necessitating a visit to the doctor.

What are the long-term results of DBS?

Tremors, stiffness, slowness, and dyskinesias are all symptoms of Parkinson's disease that can be improved by DBS surgery. It can help reduce the amount of medicine a patient needs to control their Parkinson's disease.

Many patients with DBS continue to experience improvements in their symptoms for several years following the treatment, and they are able to eat, use the bathroom, and feed themselves, according to researchers who have followed them. Memory, thinking, and mood alterations may or may not occur in patients receiving DBS for mobility disorders.

Parkinson's disease is now a progressive disorder that cannot be completely reversed. Other symptoms such as poor posture, speech impairment, gait freezing, balance problems, and dementia may still emerge while DBS is being used to treat tremors, stiffness, and slowness.