When we think of neurological problems, the most common ones that come to our mind are epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Dystonia, and seizures!
Are you suffering from any of the above neurological conditions?
Don't worry! For all the above problems, the solution is one- 'Deep Brain Stimulation or DBS'!
Are you wondering what DBS is?
This article tells you! In this article, Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney, the best neurosurgeon in India who has performed many advanced neurosurgeries and DBS surgery in Mumbai, talks about DBS, its benefits, procedure, and more!
So, what are you waiting for?
Scroll down to read and learn about deep brain stimulation or DBS!
So, first, let's know what exactly DBS is?
Deep Brain Stimulation is a surgery in which a device is implanted that provides electrical signals to the brain regions responsible for controlling movement. The electrodes are placed deep in the brain and are attached to a stimulator device by the neurosurgeon. A pacemaker-like device placed beneath the skin in the upper chest uses electrical pulses to control brain activity. DBS helps reduce the symptoms experienced in neurological conditions such as Dystonia, Parkinson's disease, etc. DBS helps in improving one's quality of life and reduces dependency on drugs.
Which conditions can be treated using DBS?
Dr. Gurneet commonly uses DBS to treat the following neurological conditions:
⦁ Epilepsy
⦁ Dystonia
⦁ Parkinson's disease
⦁ Obsessive-compulsive disorder, popularly known as OCD
⦁ Essential tremor
⦁ Tourette's syndrome
Now, let's discuss,
What are the benefits of Deep Brain Stimulation?
"DBS surgery provides various benefits and is very advantageous," says Dr. Gurneet, an experienced neurosurgeon. Some of the benefits of DBS surgery are as follows-
⦁ It is proven to be safer and more efficient.
⦁ Instead of surgery, a stimulator is implanted inside the brain.
⦁ The stimulator can be adjusted according to the needs of the patients.
⦁ The surgery can be reversed.
⦁ The treatment helps reduce the dependency on medicines
⦁ It improves motor functions.
⦁ The surgery allows one to perform daily activities and improves the overall quality of life.
Isn't DBS surgery very beneficial!
So, what are you thinking?
It is now time to reap the benefits of this effective treatment!
What happened? Are you wondering whether you are an eligible candidate for the procedure?
Don't worry! Below we have mentioned the eligibility criteria for the procedure. You can check it out below.
So, who is eligible for DBS?
According to Dr. Gurneet, the following people are eligible for DBS:
⦁ Those who suffer from mobility issues.
⦁ Those who do not respond well to drugs.
⦁ Those who have troublesome dyskinesias.
Do you fall in the above category of people?
Then visit Dr. Gurneet right now for DBS surgery!
What can I expect on my visit to Dr. Gurneet?
Dr. Gurneet will initially discuss the procedure with you and explain the benefits and risks associated with the procedure. He will clear all your doubts regarding the treatment and perform specific medical examinations to confirm whether DBS is the right option for you or not. So, he will make you 100% ready for the procedure, both physically and mentally!
So, once you are 100% ready to begin the treatment journey, he will start the treatment journey! Don't worry! Dr. Gurneet will hold your hands and be there with you throughout the treatment journey, thus helping you reduce the anxiety experienced and making your treatment journey a smooth and successful one, the one that makes you reach the destination of excellent health!
But what exactly happens during the treatment journey? What is the procedure of the treatment?
This is how DBS surgery works:
Brain surgery: For brain surgery, your doctor makes you a unique head frame to make your head still. A brain CT scan or MRI is then used to map the brain and determine where the electrodes will be placed in the brain.
As a general rule, the electrodes are put while you are alert and awake. If you are awake when you have surgery, you will be administered a local anesthetic to numb your scalp before the surgery. You will not require an anesthetic in the brain as the brain doesn't have any pain sensors.
A thin wire lead with electrodes is implanted at the tips into a particular region of the brain by Dr. Gurneet. Or he implants one lead into each side of the brain( for a total of 2 leads). A wire runs beneath the skin to a pulse generator that is implanted near the collar bone.
The surgeon and the neurologist pay close attention to the brain to ensure that the electrodes are placed correctly during surgery.
Chest surgery: During the second part of the surgery, the pulse generator (the part of the device that holds the batteries) is put under the skin in your chest, near the collarbone.
A general anesthetic is administered during this surgery. When you have brain electrodes in your brain, wires from them are put beneath the skin and led to the battery-powered pulse generator.
The generator is set up to send electrical pulses to the brain all the time. You are in charge of the generator and can turn it off or on with remote control.
Hold on! The treatment journey is not yet over!
Some weeks post-surgery, Dr. Gurneet activates the pulse generator in the chest. The neurosurgeon can easily set up the pulse generator from outside your body with the help of a unique remote control. How much stimulation you get is based on your health, and it could take up to 6 months to find the right setting.
There is a unique remote control that you can use to turn stimulation off and on. In some cases, the doctor may be able to set up the pulse generator so that you can make small changes at home.
Depending on how you use and set up your generator, the battery life can vary. When the battery requires to be changed, your doctor will do an outpatient procedure to change the generator.
And with this, the treatment journey comes to an end!
But what is the end, where does the journey actually take you to? What is the final destination?
The final destination is reduced symptoms and pain! Yes, by walking the treatment journey called deep brain stimulation, you reach the destination where the symptoms and pain of the disease you are having get reduced, and the overall quality of your life improves!
So, what are you waiting for?
Now, as you are aware of the effective treatment called deep brain stimulation, it is time to begin and walk the treatment journey and reach the destination of improved health and happiness!
It is now time to walk on the path to a better and healthier life- the path called DBS surgery!