PARKINSON'S DISEASE NEWS

22nd September 2010 - New research

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

World Neurosurgery [2010] 73 (4) : 338-344 (F.Vergani, A.Landi, D.Pirillo, R.Cilia, A.Antonini, E.P.Sganzerla)  Complete abstract

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is the most commonly used surgical means of treating Parkinson's Disease. It involves the use of electrodes that are implanted into the brain and connected to a small electrical device called a pulse generator that can be externally programmed. For more information go to Deep Brain Stimulation. Adverse events, due to surgical and hardware-related complications, must be clearly addressed to properly balance the cost-effectiveness of the therapy. In a large study of DBS surgical operations, the following percentages of patients experienced adverse events : surgical complications (5.6%), including hemorrhages (1.4%), and inabilities to complete the surgical procedure (2.1%). Medical delayed adverse events affected 1.4% of patients, with a patient having a fatal aspiration pneumonia. Infections were seen in 5.6% of patients. Removal of the hardware was necessary in 3.6%. Hardware-adverse events were observed in 7% of patients, generally requiring minor surgery. Direct surgical mortality was 0%. Overall mortality was 0.7%. Permanent surgical morbidity was 0.7%. For more current news go to Parkinson's Disease News.

E-MAIL NOTIFICATION : If you would like to be notified by e-mail when any new research, news reports, new books, or new resources are added to Parkinson's Disease News,  please merely e-mail [email protected] with the message "subscribe".  No form of identity is required.  E-mail addresses are not used for any other purpose.

Parkinson's Disease News details all significant new research, news reports, new books, and new resources concerning Parkinson's Disease and those medical disorders that often coincide with Parkinson's Disease. It is compiled from an analysis of  all newly published research, news reports, new clinical trials, all newly published books, and new web sites. A summary and analysis of the new research are provided,  as well as links to the complete abstracts and news reports