Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Rest tremor is a cardinal symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), and is readily suppressed by deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN). The therapeutic effect of the latter on bradykinesia and rigidity has been associated with the suppression of exaggerated beta (13-30 Hz) band synchronization in the vicinity of the stimulating electrode, but there is no correlation between beta suppression and tremor amplitude. In the present study, we investigate whether tremor suppression is related to suppression of activities at other frequencies. ⋯ Our findings support a relationship between low gamma oscillations and PD tremor, and reinforce the principle that the subthalamic LFP is a rich signal that may contain information about the severity of multiple different Parkinsonian features.
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Intrathecal drug delivery is a well-defined strategy to treat malignant and nonmalignant pain. Ziconotide is a well-studied intrathecal medicine option that has many attractive qualities, as it is non-granulomagenic, overdose or underdose is not associated with cardiopulmonary compromise or death, and is a non-opoid analgesic. However, it has had slow adoption into pain care algorithms because it has been historically plagued with the connotation of having a narrow therapeutic window and a low sustainability rate. We introduce a novel dosing strategy to improve patient outcomes and sustainability. ⋯ We present a novel strategy to deliver ziconotide using a unique continuous infusion flex dosing strategy. Further randomized, prospective, higher-powered studies are needed to critically evaluate the conclusions suggested by this limited prospective case series.
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Observational Study
The Accuracy of Template-Guided Refill Technique of Intrathecal Pumps Controlled by Fluoroscopy: An Observational Study.
Intrathecal drug therapy is being utilized increasingly for the treatment of chronic refractory pain. However, performing the regular pump refill procedures caries the potential risk of medication injection into the subcutaneous tissue. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of this template-guided refill technique by means of fluoroscopic evaluation. ⋯ Our results suggest poor accuracy of insertion point identification using the template. This highlights the potential risk of errors related to identification of the puncture site using the template-guided technique.
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The human nucleus accumbens (Acc) has become a target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in some neuropsychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, even with the most recent advances in neuroimaging it remains difficult to accurately delineate the Acc and closely related subcortical structures, by conventional MRI sequences. It is our purpose to perform a MRI study of the human Acc and to determine whether there are reliable anatomical landmarks that enable the precise location and identification of the nucleus and its core/shell division. ⋯ Advanced MRI techniques allow in vivo delineation and segmentation of the human Acc and represent an additional guiding tool in the precise and safe target definition for DBS.
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Intrathecal baclofen is an established method of treating spasticity. However, this therapy is not without significant morbidity and mortality. The known morbidity associated with intrathecal pumps includes death, infection, and sepsis including central nervous system infection, accidental overdose, wrong drug administration as well as technical failures such as pump or battery failure, catheter migration or catheter breakage. Medtronic has issued a number of advisories, most recently in June 2013, regarding the safety of the Medtronic SynchroMed II intrathecal pumps. ⋯ Our unit continues to retain a high level of vigilance when dealing with potential complications of intrathecal pump therapy. Supplemental oral baclofen may have a role in this setting.