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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough deep brain stimulation is generally safe, any type of surgery carries risks and complications can occur. Also, the brain stimulation itself may cause side effects.
Surgery risks
Deep brain stimulation involves boring small holes in the skull to implant the electrodes, and chest surgery to implant the pulse generator. Complications of surgery may include:
- Bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage)
- Stroke
- Infection
- Speech problems
- Breathing problems
- Nausea
- Heart problems
- Incision scarring
With deep brain stimulation, surgery is not a one-time procedure. Pulse generator batteries have a limited life span and when they run out, symptoms of depression may quickly return. Replacing the dead battery requires surgery to access the pulse generator. Batteries last from six to 18 months. It's also possible for a wire connecting the pulse generator to an electrode to break or for other malfunctions to occur.
Possible side effects after surgery
Side effects associated with deep brain stimulation may include:
- Seizure
- Infection
- Unwanted mood changes, such as mania and depression
- Insomnia
- Allergic reaction to the implant
- Slight paralysis
- Jolting or shocking sensation
- Temporary pain and swelling at the implantation site
- Read CN, et al. Psychiatric neurosurgery 2009: Review and perspective. Seminars in Neurology. 2009;29:256.
- Larson PS. Deep brain stimulation for psychiatric disorders. Neurotherapeutics: The Journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics.
- Deep brain stimulation. NeuroSurgeryToday.org. http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/deep%20brain%20stimulation.asp. Accessed June 15, 2010.
- Howland RH. Neurosurgical approaches to therapeutic brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing. 2008;46:15.
- Rabins P, et al. Scientific and ethical issues related to deep brain stimulation for disorders of mood, behavior, and thought. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2009;66:931.
- Tye SJ. Disrupting disordered neurocircuitry: Treating refractory psychiatric illness with neuromodulation. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2009;84:522.
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