Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Posted by Admin | Posted in Health News, Multiple Sclerosis | Posted on 15-01-2010
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It is a treatment done through surgical procedure that involves the inserting of a medical apparatus called brain transplantation. This medical device performs the function of sending electrical impulses to certain specified areas of the brain. This therapy when applied to specific regions of the brain has resulted in amazing and remarkable medical benefits. It has been specially designed for affective disorders like tremor, dystonia, Parkinson’s disease and so on.
DBS has a long history but the operative principles and mechanisms are still ambiguous in nature. Clarity is still lacking in this regard. You will be surprised to know that DBS transforms the activity of the brain in an organized manner. It also results in reversible effects and it is different from the lesioning techniques. DBS is surely a neurosurgical operative method that has permitted blinded studies.
DBS neither cures Parkinson’s disease nor eliminates the entail of medicine. DBS of thalamus is executed to treat tremor caused by Parkinson’s. Procedures such as pallidotomy and thalamotomy are rarely performed. They involve the precise destruction of very small areas in the deep part of the brain that cause symptoms. Neurotransplantation surgery is an experimental procedure being studied for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. It involves implanting cells that produce dopamine into the brain. Different surgery choices available are Deep brain stimulation, Pallidotomy, Thalamotomy, Neurotransplatation.
Three Major Elements of DBS System
The DBS system precisely consists of three major elements: The first is the inserted pulse generator (IPG), the extension and the lead. The medical device (IPG) runs by a battery enabled neurostimulator encapsulated in titanium covering that helps in transmitting electrical impulses to the brain that readily interfere with the neural activities of the targeted area. The lead is a curved wire that protects and contains polyurethane with four platinum iridium rods that is implanted in the selected areas of the brain.
The IPG has the lead connected to it and there is a well-protected wire that starts from the head and continues down till the neck and ends at the rear of the ear and in some cases it continues down till the abdomen as well. The IPG can be examined by trained medical help to gauge the suppression of the symptoms and it can also control the side-effects.
DBS is implemented in an experimental way to medically treat patients suffering from the acute Tourette syndrome. It has been a successful phenomenon; DBS still is a very experimental medical method to treat Tourette syndrome. Adequate study is essential to examine the long-term advantages and calculate the risks as well. A neurologist with extraordinary education in Parkinson’s disease is the best kind of doctor to make a judgment about surgery. People resort to surgery when Parkinson’s disease matures to the point that drugs can no longer control symptoms adequately.
As the disease progresses, the prevalent symptoms may worsen, or a person may develop new symptoms that drugs cannot manage. People suffering from extremely advanced Parkinson’s or who have other serious conditions (such as heart or lung disease, cancer, or kidney failure) are not usually good candidates for surgery. Surgery is not an option for people who have dementia or psychiatric disorders.