Deep Brain Stimulation
Holy Cross Hospital offers deep brain stimulation (DBS) — one of the most cutting-edge and effective treatments for Parkinson’s Disease, and the latest approach to neurodegenerative disease management. The hospital is one of just a handful of Washington DC and Maryland facilities to offer DBS, and in October 2016, became the first hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region to implant the St. Jude Medical Infinity™ DBS System, an advanced new option recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
During this advanced brain surgery for Parkinson’s, surgeons implant electrodes in the brain that deliver controlled electrical stimulation to targeted areas. The electrical stimulation helps to disrupt faulty signals in the brain that cause common symptoms, such as tremors, stiffening of limbs, freezing and can actually help treat the side effects of Parkinson’s medications.
Holy Cross Hospital Neurosurgeon Zachary Levine, MD, is a world-renowned expert in deep brain stimulator implantation, who has years of experience in the full-range of neurodegenerative disease treatments. He has conducted more than 800 DBS procedures, employing the most sophisticated technology to ensure accuracy and safety, making DBS a relatively low-risk procedure with positive—and sometimes immediate—results for patients.
Precision Electrical Stimulation
Prior to the procedure, three-dimensional scanned images of the patient’s brain are produced—mapping the route to the precise areas of the brain that are causing the symptoms. During the procedure, Dr. Levine uses the map and image-guided software to reach the target, avoiding damage to healthy tissue.
The multi-surgery DBS procedure involves implanting the stimulator electrodes in the target areas of the brain and a small battery called a neuro-stimulator in the chest, and then connecting the elctrodes to the battery using leads buried under the skin. The leads release electrical current that helps to reorganize disorganized signals in the targeted areas of the brain.
The design of the new St. Jude Medical DBS directional lead system allows physicians to redirect the current using an iPad Mini that controls the neurostimulator. Patients can also discreetly manage their symptoms using an iPod Touch mobile digital device controller or they can turn it off completely.
While it is frequently used as a Parkinson tremor treatment, DBS surgery for dystonia is also effective in controlling the painful spasms that patients with this neurological muscle disorder experience.
Surgeons may also use DBS for essential tremor—a disorder that causes “action tremors.” Unlike Parkinson’s, in which tremors occur when people are at rest, action tremors occur when the person affected is engaged in voluntary movements, such as eating or writing.
Patients who have DBS may also continue to receive medication to help control symptoms, and participate in physical therapy, or attend the Holy Cross Hospital’s Parkinson's Exercise Class to help maintain strength, balance and improve coordination.