Individuals may lose their mobility and control due to damage to the areas where some specialized cells involved in movement control of the brain gather and/or the insufficiency of the production of substances called neurotransmitters that are responsible for providing this control. The most important surgical method used in the treatment of neurological disorders that cause these damages is the brain battery. Brain battery, one of the surgical methods that can be adjusted and controlled, is especially effective on patients with essential tremor (uncontrolled shaking during voluntary movements), Parkinson’s disease and dystonia (involuntary contraction).
Thanks to the brain battery, the electrodes placed on the patient can be controlled without touching the patient, and the disease can be brought under control by making adjustments to correct the patient’s complaints. Neurosurgery operations performed using advanced technology carry less risk than other neurosurgery operations. The quality of life of patients who have undergone brain pacing operation, especially Parkinson’s patients, can increase and their daily lives can continue in their normal course.
In Which Diseases Is It Used?
The brain battery is used to minimize the symptoms of some diseases.
Parkinson’s disease,
epilepsy,
Tremor disorders in some parts of the body (Essential Tremor),
Involuntary contraction diseases seen in some parts of the body (Dystonia),
tic disorder (Tourette),
obsessive compulsive disorders,
major depression.
In addition to these diseases, studies are carried out for the use of brain batteries in the areas of Alzheimer’s and obesity.
What are the effects?
After brain pacing operations, patients can return to their daily lives very quickly. Especially the daily lives of Parkinson’s patients and patients who experience involuntary contractions change depending on these symptoms. Reasons such as tremors and excessive contraction of the muscles cause patients to be unable to control their movements. Thanks to the brain battery, patients suffering from these symptoms return to the initial stages of their disease. While the majority of patients who have undergone a brain pacing operation reduce their drug doses, some of them stop taking the medicines completely. Although the pacing is effective on the symptoms, it does not completely eliminate the disease. Most diseases are caused by damage to certain parts of the brain. The brain battery does not restore these damaged areas to their normal state, but it is effective in eliminating symptoms such as tremor, inability to control movement, and slowness in movements in the patient due to the dysfunction of this region. Individuals who are in the 10th year of the disease and have advanced Parkinson’s disease can return to the first stage of the disease after brain battery operations. Patients who cannot perform their daily tasks such as buttoning a shirt, preparing food or tying shoes and who are disconnected from social life can continue their daily lives without the need for help.
How is Brain Battery Surgery Performed?
The purpose of brain battery applications is to give electrical stimulation to the damaged and impaired electrical activity of the brain at regular intervals. For this purpose, it is necessary to first make a brain map of the patients. MRI and other imaging methods are used for the map. Then, considering this map, the regions where the electrodes should be placed are determined and thin cables are placed in these areas to provide electrical activity. The battery that will give the electrical stimulus is placed under the collarbone or in the thoracic cage cavity. Although the general lines of the brain battery surgery are like this, a series of procedures are performed before, during and after the surgery.
Before Surgery
Before the operation, various tests and examinations are applied to the patients in order to determine their condition. MRI and brain tomography are imaging methods used in the extraction of brain maps of patients. In addition, some tests are applied for the suitability of the patients for anesthesia. Blood tests and urine tests are performed to learn the general condition of the patient. Controls indicating the general health status such as blood count, hormone status, kidney functions are carried out. In this way, it is understood whether the patients are ready for surgery or not. Apart from these tests, other tests that physicians deem appropriate are also applied. Brain battery surgeries affect patients not only physically but also psychologically. For this reason, psychiatry interviews are conducted for patients deemed appropriate by physicians to provide relief for patients. After listening to the patient’s medical history, learning about the drugs used, and these examinations and tests, the patient is ready for surgery.
accomplished while the patient is awake or under anesthesia. This is determined by the patient’s disease and physician preference. In surgeries performed while the patient is awake, a small hole is drilled in the area where local anesthesia is applied by the surgeons and electrodes are placed in the areas determined on the brain map. Although the patients are conscious during this procedure and the adjustment of the electrodes, they do not feel pain or pain. The batteries are placed under the skin of the patients, usually in the rib cage. Therefore, it is important that patients do not feel pain or pain during the operation.