Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease: The selection of appropriate patient candidate

Abstract

Deep brain stimulation surgery, one of the device-assisted treatments for advanced Parkinson's disease, provides a significant improvement in quality of life criteria when applied to the appropriate candidates. Although the subthalamic nucleus is the main neuroanatomical structure for this surgery, other surgical targets include thalamus ventral intermediate (VIM) and globus pallidus internus. Candidates are selected and evaluated by a dedicated team for deep brain stimulation surgery. The deep brain stimulation team consists of a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, a neuroradiologist, an anesthesiologist, and a neurologist, who specialize in movement disorder. The patient's motor symptom response to levodopa treatment and other contraindications are reviewed, and the patient is prepared for deep brain stimulation surgery. This article addresses the criteria for the selection of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, eligible for deep brain stimulation treatment, as well as addressing the appropriate anatomical targets.