• Ann-Kristin Helmers, Falk Birkenfeld, Günther Deuschl, Steffen Paschen, Gesa Cohrs, Hubertus Maximilian Mehdorn, and Daniela Falk.
• Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: ann-kristin.helmers@uksh.de.
• World Neurosurg. 2019 Jul 1; 127: e65-e68.

ObjectiveGenerators implanted for deep brain stimulation must be replaced after several years. If a Kinetra generator is replaced by the Activa-PC, an adaptor will be required to attach it to the original extension cables. On the basis of our clinical impression that the battery life of the Active-PC generator was shorter when an adaptor was used, we performed this retrospective study.MethodsWe determined the battery lifetimes of deep brain stimulation generators that had been implanted in our department. The inclusion criterion was the initial implantation of a Kinetra generator that was later replaced by an Activa-PC with adaptor, which itself was subsequently also replaced. These patients were compared with an Activa-PC control group without an adaptor but identical with regard to number of battery exchanges, disease, and target.ResultsThere were 28 patients in the study group and 14 in the control group. Battery lifetime of the Activa-PC with adaptor (32.4 ± 7.7 months) was significantly shorter than that of the Kinetra (53.5 ± 15.7 months, P = 0.000006). The battery life of Activa-PC without an adaptor (35.3 ± 8.2 months) did not differ significantly from that of the Activa-PC with an adaptor (P = 0.333).ConclusionsThe battery lifetime in a replacement Activa-PC is shorter than that in the original Kinetra generator. Adaptors have no significant effect on battery life. Patients should be informed that the battery in their new generator must be checked more frequently than before.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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