Pilot study on a fast postoperative programming approach to subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
T0 o evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a fast post-operative screening method using deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in patients with Parkinson's disease.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients implanted with electrodes for STN-DBS were divided into two groups : Group I received traditional programming and Group II was treated with the fast method. The time required for programming in each group and the treatment effects were analyzed.


RESULTS
Significant postoperative improvement of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III was achieved in the "off medication" and "on stimulation" condition in both the groups (Group I: 51.2% vs. Group II: 54.0%, P<0.05). The average time needed for programming, however, was significantly shorter in Group II as compared to Group I (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
T0 he new fast method can significantly reduce the time required to find a preliminary effective STN-DBS protocol in the early postoperative phase without sacrificing clinical efficacy.
Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Peng
P
Li
Boyong
B
Mao
Huifang
H
Shang
Alain
A
Kaelin-Lang
Wei
W
Wang
D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome