Pallidotomy after chronic deep brain stimulation.

Journal article

Recent publications have demonstrated that deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease still exerts beneficial effects on tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia for up to 10 years after implantation of the stimulator. However with the progression of Parkinson's disease, features such as cognitive decline or "freezing" become prominent, and the presence of an implanted and functioning deep brain stimulator can impose a profound burden of care on the clinical team and family. The authors describe their experience in treating 4 patients who underwent removal of the implanted device due to either progressive dementia requiring full-time nursing or due to infection, and who subsequently underwent a unilateral pallidotomy.

Authors: Bulluss, K; Pereira, E; Joint, C; Aziz, T

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Neurosurgical focus
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 5
• Pages: E5
• Publication date: 2013-11-01
• DOI: 10.3171/2013.8.focus13293
• EISSN: 1092-0684
• ISSN: 1092-0684
• Language: English
• Keywords: Wound Infection; Cognition Disorders; Electrodes, Implanted; Device Removal; Combined Modality Therapy; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Antiparkinson Agents; Male; Deep Brain Stimulation; Female; Pallidotomy; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Quality of Life; Disease Progression; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome; Parkinson Disease; Aged; Salvage Therapy