Deep Brain Stimulation Essay
1. A recently popular surgical technique for the management of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease is Deep Brain Stimulation. Complete the virtual deep brain stimulation exercise at: http://www.edheads.org/activities/brain_stimulation/ a. Briefly describe the process of Deep Brain Stimulation in your own words, after completing this exercise (3 points)
5 step process:
1. Evaluate the patient: Ask the age, family history, what they are having problems with and what symptoms they currently have.
2. Surgery prep: Fiducials (screws) are put in to be markers for surgery. Usually put in a few days before. The areas are numbed with local anesthesia.
3. Surgery: Perform the brain surgery. A general anesthetic cannot be used because it can take hours to wear off and the patient needs to be aware during parts of the surgery. The scalp has many sweat glands and has to be scrubbed with betadine solution. Local anesthetic is injected. The head is scrubbed multiple more time to ensure sterilization. The surgeon does a …show more content…
Put in battery packs: The batteries are placed under the clavicle. The patient is under general anesthesia. The patient is tested first with out the batteries turned on and then with the batteries turned on.
5. Activate and set the system: the physician does more testing without the probe turned on. Then the probe is turned on. There is a noticeable difference in this patient when the batteries are turned on.
a. Does DBS benefit speech and limb motor symptoms equally? Explain briefly (2 points)
In this example, it seems that DBS only helps limb motor movements. The doctor and the surgeon never asked the patient if she was having any difficulty with speech, rather they asked if she had difficulty with writing. Since limb movements can also be a symptom of speech motor disorders, it may also benefit speech but it is inconclusive from this activity. Overall DBS seems to be very affective for individuals with Parkinson’s disease who have limb motor
5 step process:
1. Evaluate the patient: Ask the age, family history, what they are having problems with and what symptoms they currently have.
2. Surgery prep: Fiducials (screws) are put in to be markers for surgery. Usually put in a few days before. The areas are numbed with local anesthesia.
3. Surgery: Perform the brain surgery. A general anesthetic cannot be used because it can take hours to wear off and the patient needs to be aware during parts of the surgery. The scalp has many sweat glands and has to be scrubbed with betadine solution. Local anesthetic is injected. The head is scrubbed multiple more time to ensure sterilization. The surgeon does a …show more content…
Put in battery packs: The batteries are placed under the clavicle. The patient is under general anesthesia. The patient is tested first with out the batteries turned on and then with the batteries turned on.
5. Activate and set the system: the physician does more testing without the probe turned on. Then the probe is turned on. There is a noticeable difference in this patient when the batteries are turned on.
a. Does DBS benefit speech and limb motor symptoms equally? Explain briefly (2 points)
In this example, it seems that DBS only helps limb motor movements. The doctor and the surgeon never asked the patient if she was having any difficulty with speech, rather they asked if she had difficulty with writing. Since limb movements can also be a symptom of speech motor disorders, it may also benefit speech but it is inconclusive from this activity. Overall DBS seems to be very affective for individuals with Parkinson’s disease who have limb motor