Page Content
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Dr. Jonathan Carlson Dr. Jeff Hirschauer
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery is a highly effective treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease and Essential Tremor. At Inland Neurosurgery and Spine Associates our team of surgeons has been performing this surgery for over 15 years, treating hundreds of patients in the Spokane, and Eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana region. Our DBS program is large enough that two neurosurgeons perform the surgery, Dr. Jonathan Carlson and Dr. Jeffery Hirschauer.
The success of DBS surgery depends not only on the highly skilled neurosurgeon, but on a team approach to treating your disease. Through Northwest Collaborative Care (NWCC) our team of specialists has been working together to provide the highest level of care. This includes the movement disorder neurologists Dr. David Greeley and Jamie Mark ANRP at Northwest Neurological. Cognitive and psychological testing is performed by Dr. Volwiler Ph.D.. Physical and Occupational therapy are provided in the home by Parkinson’s trained therapists from Gentiva. Surgery is performed at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where we have nurses specially trained to care for the complexity of Parkinson’s disease.
DBS surgery is not just a surgery; it is a treatment process. It involves pre-surgical testing including MRI scans of the brain, neurology and neurosurgery clinical consultations, and often cognitive testing. The implantation involves two surgeries, the first implants the stimulator wires into the brain, the second places the pacemaker. Then intensive neurology clinic visits are necessary for the next 3 to 6 months as the stimulator is adjusted and medications are changed. All this is necessary for good clinical effect, personalized to your specific disease.
For more information check out the following pages:
© Copyright 2010 Inland Neurosurgery and Spine | 105 West 8th Avenue, Suite 200, Spokane, WA 99204 | (509) 624-9112