Medtronic DBS therapy For essential tremor

Alert Indications, Safety, and Warnings

DBS for essential tremor
fact sheet

Learn more about treatment options, expected results, and why DBS therapy is an important addition to the treatment continuum for essential tremor.

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Treating the symptoms of essential tremor

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been shown to reduce tremor in the upper extremity that is associated with essential tremor.1 If medications are not working adequately and the tremor constitutes a significant functional disability, DBS may be an option for essential tremor patients.

Benefits of Medtronic DBS

  • Improves ability to do everyday activities, less tremor, and less disability1
  • Offers the first safe* access to MRI anywhere on the body for diagnosing health conditions in patients with deep brain stimulation
  • Allows therapy to be turned off or reversed, preserving options for future therapies and treatments

Risks

Physicians should be aware that the risks associated with initial surgery may increase with clinical conditions such as:

  • Stroke or neurological disorders other than idiopathic Parkinson’s disease
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Renal or hepatic failure
  • Diabetes mellitus

To help ensure maximum benefits from the neurostimulation system, long-term, post-surgical management of patients is recommended.

Download our clinical summary to see the clinical data about essential tremor and DBS.

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Is your essential tremor patient a candidate for DBS therapy?

Deep brain stimulation should be considered when a patient with essential tremor has disabling symptoms and medications are ineffective or have intolerable side effects.

Deep brain stimulation may be considered for patients who meet the following criteria:

  • They have a disabling tremor of an upper extremity due to essential tremor or Parkinsonian tremor.
  • The tremor causes a significant functional disability.
  • The tremor is refractory to pharmacological therapies.
  • They are suitable candidates for stereotactic neurosurgery.
  • The tremor is of physiologic origin.

The safety and effectiveness of deep brain stimulation therapy for essential tremor has not been established for:

  • Bilateral VIM stimulation
  • Patients with neurological disease origins other than essential tremor or Parkinson’s disease
  • Patients with a previous thalamotomy or surgical ablation procedure
  • Pregnancy or delivery
  • Patients under the age of 18 years
  • Patients over the age of 80 years

Medtronic Academy

Access on-demand DBS resources, procedural videos, webinars, and more at Medtronic Academy.

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Contact Medtronic

Reach U.S. clinician services for Medtronic DBS products at:

800-328-0810

 

*

Medtronic DBS systems are MR Conditional and safe in the MR environment as long as certain conditions are met. If the conditions are not met, a significant risk is tissue lesions from component heating, especially at the lead electrodes, resulting in serious and permanent injury including coma, paralysis, or death. Refer to the MRI Guidelines for Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation Systems at www.medtronic.com/mri or contact Medtronic at (1-800) 328-0810 for a complete list of conditions. Also review current MRI manufacturer labeling before conducting the MRI. 

1

Medtronic DBS Therapy for Parkinson's Disease and Essential Tremor Clinical Summary, 2015.