Benefits and Risks – DBS Therapy

Although there is no cure for essential tremor, Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy has been proven to reduce the severity of the tremor associated with essential tremor in an upper extremity of the body.¹

DBS does not cure the underlying condition that causes essential tremor. If the treatment is discontinued, your symptoms will return.

Benefits

DBS has been shown to improve activities of daily living at 12 months¹ that were previously difficult or impossible for people living with essential tremor.

Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy is:

Safe – DBS was developed by Medtronic in the 1980s and approved for use for essential tremor in the United States in 1997. Medtronic DBS Therapy is currently approved to treat Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia,* and obsessive-compulsive disorder.* Since 1997, more than 80,000 patients worldwide have benefited from Medtronic DBS Therapy.²
Effective – The Medtronic DBS System is made to deliver stimulation that may decrease some of your symptoms.
Adjustable – Stimulation parameters can be set by your clinician to meet your specific needs.
Reversible – Unlike other surgical treatments, DBS Therapy does not involve the removal of any part of your brain. The Medtronic DBS system may be removed.

Risks

DBS Therapy requires brain surgery. Risks of brain surgery may include serious complications such as coma, bleeding inside the brain, seizures and infection. Some of these may be fatal. Once implanted, the system may become infected, parts may wear through your skin, and the lead or lead/extension connector may move. Medtronic DBS Therapy could stop suddenly because of mechanical or electrical problems. Any of these situations may require additional surgery or cause your symptoms to return.

Medtronic DBS Therapy may cause worsening of some motor symptoms associated with your movement disorder, and may cause speech and language impairments. Stimulation parameters may be adjusted to minimize side effects and attain maximum symptom control. In patients receiving Medtronic DBS Therapy, depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide have been reported.

Your doctor can provide more information about these and other potential risks and side effects. Many side effects related to stimulation can be managed by adjusting the stimulation settings. Several follow-up visits may be needed to find the best stimulation settings.

*Humanitarian Device: The effectiveness of this device for the treatment of dystonia or obsessive-compulsive disorder has not been established.

References

Medtronic DBS Therapy for Parkinson's Disease and Essential Tremor Clinical Summary, 2009.
Data on File at Medtronic, Inc.

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Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.

Last updated: 17 Jan 2012