
Deep brain stimulation (DBS), in other words, brain pacemaker surgery process is performed in two parts. After the first brain surgery, chest wall surgery is performed. The surgical processes are as follows:
During the operation, local anesthesia or general anesthesia is applied to the scalp of the patient. After anesthesia, the surgeon places a thin wire with electrodes into the patient's brain. In addition, a wire passes under the skin to a pulse generator (device battery) placed on the side of the collarbone.
During surgery, the surgeon and neurologist monitor the brain for electrode placement.
A few weeks after surgery, the pulse generator in your chest kicks in. Doctor can easily program your pulse generator with the remote control. The amount of stimulation is customized to your situation and it may take up to four (4) to six (6) months to find the optimum setting.
Brain stimulation may be constant twenty-four (24) hours a day, or your doctor may recommend that you turn off your pulse generator at night and turn it back on in the morning, depending on your condition. You can turn the stimulation on and off with a special remote control to take home. In some cases, your doctor may program the pulse generator to allow you to make minor adjustments at home. Battery life of the generator varies with usage and settings. If the battery needs to be replaced, your surgeon will replace the generator during the outpatient procedure.
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