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> Subject: WARNING -- SEVERE CNS DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF DIATHERMY FOR DBS PATIENTS > From: Margaret Tuchman <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 21:45:48 -0400 IMPORTANT INFORMATION DBS and diathermy interaction induces severe CNS damage JG Nutt, VC Anderson, JH Peacock, JP Hammerstad, KJ Burchiel Neurology 2001;56:1384-1386 Diathermy following tooth extraction caused severe brain injury in a patient with implanted DBS electrodes, according to this report. Nineteen months following implantation of bilateral electrodes in the STN for Parkinson's disease, the patient underwent maxillary tooth extraction followed by radiofrequency diathermy, in which the induction coil was placed on alternate cheeks to induce heating of the tissue to hasten recovery. By the end of the one-hour procedure, the patient could not be aroused and was insensitive to pain. MRI revealed bilateral lesions in the immediate vicinity of the electrodes. The patient was ultimately discharged to a skilled nursing facility with little recovery of motor function or consciousness. The authors state, "Our case illustrates that exposure of the [implantable pulse generator], leads or electrodes to high-energy electric or magnetic fields poses a danger for tissue damage in the region of the electrodes...It is important for the physicians to be aware of this adverse event and to educate their patients to avoid exposure to RF diathermy in the vicinity of the IPGs, leads and electrodes." Copyright 2000 WE MOVE Editor: Richard Robinson ([log in to unmask]) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn