Monday, September 08, 2008

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Dr Tra Mi Phan, Movement Disorders, Medtronic Neurological Europe, for her contributions to this section.

 

Mrs Swinford is a patient benefiting from ACTIVA® 1

Is DBS right for me?

If you are interested in DBS, the following points are often used to determine if a person is a candidate. Not all people with PD are suitable for DBS, and even when eligible, each person responds differently to the effects of DBS.

Remember, only a specialized physician can determine if DBS is right for you.

You may be a candidate if:

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Mrs Swinford is a patient benefiting from ACTIVA® 1

  1. Your Parkinson's drugs are no longer working well and you are suffering from their side effects.
  2. You have shown benefit now, or in the past from levodopa therapy.
  3. Your symptoms are not adequately controlled by medications.
  4. You must be physically able to endure the surgery, and must be able to cooperate by answering questions and following directions during the surgery.
  5. You do not have significant cognitive decline or dementia.
  6. You must understand the nature of the therapy and be able to operate the neurostimulator control tools.
  7. You must be available for periodic follow-up visits.

When you see your doctor, be prepared with a set of questions to ask your doctor.

 

  1. Activa® is a deep brain stimulation system and is a registered trademark of Medtronic
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