This effect may occasionally persist due to the possibility of a mechanical lesion occurring during placement of the electrode. The patient is awake during the initial part of the surgery. However, to implant the IPG under the skin the patient has to undergo general anesthesia. Pallidal Stimulation Based on the success of DBS for tremor and of pallidotomy for parkinsonian symptoms, this technology is used for continuously stimulating the globus pallidus. The improvements are similar to pallidotomy with the advantage of performing bilateral operations.
Some patients have a pallidotomy on one side and pallidal stimulation on the opposite side.
These two procedures are usually done several months apart. The patients are awake during the initial part of the surgery and require general anesthesia to implant the IPG under the skin. The medications are usually unchanged after surgery. The experience with subthalamic stimulation shows that this procedure has considerable potential. The patient is awake during the initial procedure.