COMMON SURGICAL QUESTIONS
Am I awake for the surgery?
Yes and no. During most of the first surgery you are wide-awake without sedating medications. Your participation in surgery helps verify that the electrode is placed in a good location. You will be sedated during part of the surgery such as drilling of the hole.
During the second surgery you are under general anesthesia. This is when the extension wire and pulse generator are placed.
How is the electrode attached to the skull?
The Navigus Cap system is a plastic device that is screwed into the skull. It clamps the electrode and holds it in place.
Will my hair be shaved?
Yes. Only the areas around the incisions will be shaved. So the majority of your hair will be left. But because the incision is in the front of your head you will notice the missing hair.
How are the wires connected to the pulse generator?
During your second surgery a rod is pushed under the skin from your scalp, across your neck, to the incision below the clavicle. The wire is then passed back through this passage under your skin.
What will I feel in surgery?
Remarkably you are not able to feel with your brain tissue. So you cannot feel when electrodes are placed in your brain. You can feel in your scalp. This is numbed throughout the surgery. So very few patients complain of pain in their head during surgery. The most common complaints are back pain or neck pain from lying on the table.
You might feel anxious – we can give you medicine to relax if needed. You might feel exhilarated. Most patients have a deep sense of relief when the surgery is finished.
Will I have scars?
Yes. All the incisions are made behind the hairline. But if you are balding, or bald the incision will be visible. The scars fade over time, but will always bed detectible. The hair around the edge of the incision usually doesn’t grow back.
What should I bring to the Hospital?
What if stem cells prove effective after I have had DBS?
You should still be able to get stem cell implant. It will likely be in a different location that where the DBS electrodes are placed.
Does DBS increase your lifespan?
Probably not. It improves quality of your remaining life that you live.
Does it help your sex life?
Not directly – it helps your Parkinson’s disease, which means it might help your sex life. There are no restrictions once the system is up and running.
Is there a point where the deep brain stimulation doesn't have anything left to stimulate? In other words, can the area being stimulated die or deteriorate over time?
DBS does not kill the surrounding brain tissue, even after years. Despite the DBS stimulation your Parkinson’s disease will continue to progress. After 7 to 10 years it appears to work less well. I think this is because the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease that are resistant to DBS progress and overcome the benefit of the stimulation.