Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a medical procedure that involves the surgical implantation of a device in the brain to stimulate certain areas and regulate abnormal brain activity. DBS has shown promising results in treating various neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, epilepsy, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. National Library of Medicine states that over the past 25 years, DBS has become the standard of care for patients with treatment-refractory motor circuit disorders.
Platforms like Medditour connect the patients seeking DBS treatment with international hospitals and facilitators for affordable and quality treatment, without waiting more for the treatment.
In this article, let’s understand about the procedure, its effectiveness in treatments, and how medical tourism in India, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia help in DBS treatment.
Deep Brain Stimulation procedure
The procedure involves the placement of electrodes in specific areas of the brain, which are then connected to a small battery-operated device implanted in the chest. This device delivers electrical impulses to the brain, which regulate the abnormal activity and improve the patient’s symptoms. The procedure is done under local anesthesia, and the patient remains conscious throughout the surgery. After the surgery, the patient undergoes programming sessions where the device is adjusted to deliver the appropriate amount of electrical stimulation to the brain.
Effectiveness of DBS in treatment
DBS has been found to be effective in improving the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. DBS stimulates certain areas of the brain, which helps in restoring the balance of dopamine, thus improving the patient’s symptoms.
DBS has also been found to be effective in treating essential tremor, a disorder characterized by uncontrollable shaking of the hands, head, or voice.
DBS has also shown promising results in treating dystonia, a movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions, and epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. DBS has been found to be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of seizures in patients with epilepsy.
Apart from neurological disorders, DBS has also been found to be effective in treating psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. In depression, DBS stimulates certain areas of the brain that are involved in regulating mood, thus improving the patient’s symptoms.
May Field, Brain and Spine, states that rechargeable DBS systems have a battery that lasts 10 to 15 years.
Medical tourism and DBS
Countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore have emerged as popular destinations for medical tourism, offering high-quality medical care at a fraction of the cost in developed countries.
Medical tourism in these countries has been found to be particularly beneficial for patients who require specialized treatments such as DBS, which may not be readily available in their home countries.
DBS surgery in these countries is performed by highly skilled and experienced. The cost of DBS surgery in these countries is significantly lower than in developed countries. Additionally, companies like Medditour provide opportunities for patients to combine their surgery with vacation.
In conclusion, DBS is a significant development in the field of medicine, offering hope to patients suffering from various neurological and psychiatric disorders. DBS has been found to be effective in improving the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, epilepsy, OCD, and depression. Medical tourism in countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore has made DBS surgery accessible to patients from all over the world, offering high-quality medical care at an affordable cost.