The patient usually continues on the same dose of antiparkinsonian medications with GPi stimulation, however can significantly decrease their medications with STN stimulation. Just because a patient has had a previous surgery for their PD symptoms does not exclude them from having STN stimulation surgery. Thalamic stimulation has been performed in all ages of patients. The oldest patient we have performed this surgery at our center is 91 years. However with STN and GPi stimulation we are hesitant in performing surgery in patients over 70 years of age because they are confused for weeks after surgery and often require significant post operative care.
Different surgeries require different time to program the stimulator.
For thalamic stimulator it often requires a programming session of approximately 2-3 hours for optimal programming. With STN and GPi stimulators it might require 8-10 sessions of approximately 2 hours each to program the devices. The most serious risk is bleeding in the brain causing a stroke. Approximately 2-4 patients out of 100 who have this procedure can have a complication. Other major complication includes infection that may require removal of the system.