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FDA: Danger for Those with Deep Brain Stimulator Fri December 20, 2002 05:31 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert on Friday stating that it has received reports of deaths of patients with implanted deep brain stimulators who received diathermy therapy. Diathermy therapy uses shortwave, microwave or therapeutic ultrasound to deliver "deep heat" to body structures. It is used by physical therapists, chiropractors, nurses, dentists and others to promote wound healing after surgery or to relieve swelling, pain and stiffness in muscles or joints. This treatment can be hazardous to patients with deep brain stimulators, which involve the implantation of electrodes into the brain to treat neurological ailments such as Parkinson's disease. Diathermy may cause implanted electrodes to heat up excessively, damaging brain tissue. "Laboratory testing has shown that patients with any sort of implanted metallic lead are at risk of serious injury when exposed to shortwave or microwave diathermy therapy," the agency cautioned. "This is true even if the implanted device is not turned on, and even if the lead is no longer connected to an implanted system." The FDA urged doctors who implant or monitor the leads or systems with leads to caution their patients against receiving shortwave or microwave diathermy therapy. The agency also stressed that healthcare professionals who use such therapy should ask patients about whether they have implants. SOURCE: Reuters Health UK http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=1945531 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn