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Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is one of the leading deep brain stimulation (DBS) programs in the Puget Sound. We use a team approach to deliver appropriate, patient-centered care and maintain excellent outcomes.
DBS at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health: Why choose us?
You benefit from a highly experienced and coordinated team with uncommon expertise in deep brain stimulation. Neurologists specializing in tremors provide timely assessments and play an essential role in your care. They work with neurosurgeons with advanced DBS training to ensure a safe, precise device implant procedure. Find a deep brain stimulation specialist.
Highlights of our program include:
Team approach: Neurologists and neurosurgeons work with an expert team of advanced practice providers, nurses and physical therapists to deliver a seamless experience. The team relies on neurorehabilitation providers and neuropsychologists who perform cognitive (thinking and memory) testing.
Advanced technology: We are one of the few programs in the region with stereotactic neurosurgery capabilities. This technology combines GPS-like navigation and real-time imaging, enabling surgeons to safely and accurately access deep brain structures.
- Research: Our specialists participate in national and international studies that are advancing DBS. We are uncovering insights that optimize DBS’s safety and effectiveness. Studies are also identifying additional conditions DBS may treat, such as cluster headaches, multiple sclerosis tremors and psychiatric disorders.
Is deep brain stimulation surgery right for me?
You may benefit from DBS if you:
- Have had Parkinson’s disease for at least four years
- Live with severe tremors and other involuntary movements
- Are getting less benefit from medications
- Experience medication side effects that are too much to bear
How does deep brain stimulation (DBS) work?
DBS is a treatment for many diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. Tiny wires (electrodes) placed in exact locations in the brain receive signals from a small computer placed under the skin of the chest. Stimulating brain tissue that coordinates muscle activity with gentle electrical pulses helps control symptoms, so patients feel better with less medication.
Deep brain stimulation: What to expect
DBS is available at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. We also have supporting movement disorders care team members throughout the Puget Sound. Here’s what to expect:
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Patients undergo several assessments to determine eligibility:
- Neurologists (movement disorder specialists) initiate the review process.
- Neuropsychologists screen for cognitive issues.
- Neurorehabilitation therapists administer a test to measure the impact of Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
- Neurosurgeons meet with you to explain the risks and benefits and answer your questions.
Our specialists discuss the evaluation results and whether deep brain stimulation may be right for you. There are many factors to consider, which is why these conversations are important. We recommend moving forward only if we’re confident you’ll benefit.
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Thanks to advancements over more than a decade of experience, DBS surgery has become shorter and less invasive. At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we perform DBS in two stages: one to implant electrodes in the brain and a second one to place and connect the stimulator to the electrodes. Most patients are able to go home the same day after both stage one and stage two surgeries.
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Neurologists program the device during several office visits. This step typically occurs several weeks after surgery. Your doctor will let you know when and how often programming will occur.