Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Symposium 2

The role of neurologists in deep brain stimulation for Parkinson disease: a neurosurgical perspective

Atsushi Umemura, M.D.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medicine

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been accepted as an effective treatment for medically refractory Parkinson disease (PD). Appropriate patient selection, safe and precise surgery, and proper postoperative adjustment of stimulation and medication, are essential for the success of DBS. Patient selection is the most important role for the neurologist in DBS treatment. Neurologists treating PD should understand the correct indications and contraindications for DBS, and introduce it in a timely manner to patients who can be expected to benefit substantially from it. For long term treatment of PD, ideally the neurologist in charge of the patient should adjust both the stimulation parameters and medication. Neurologists engaged in this treatment should also have a comprehensive understanding of the probable complications and how to avoid them.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (204K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 52: 1100|1102, 2012)
key words: Parkinson disease, deep brain stimulation, indication, postoperative management

(Received: 24-May-12)