The Cost of Deep Brain Stimulation in Delhi

Understanding Deep Brain Stimulation:

Deep brain stimulation is a medically approved therapy that treats neurological disorders and movement disorders. The treatment is mostly focused on patients with essential tremors, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, dystonia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Deep brain stimulation is a surgical procedure used to control the symptoms of various neurological disorders.

This treatment is mostly for Parkinson’s disease; it helps relieve the symptoms. Deep brain stimulation therapy also relieves symptoms of various diseases, including rigidity, tremors, walking problems, stiffness, and slowed movement. Deep brain stimulation is classified as a neurostimulation-based treatment that helps control the symptoms of different conditions.

The condition includes chronic pain, refractory epilepsy, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Tourette’s syndrome, and major depression-related disorders. Deep brain stimulation is used for deep studying and has various potential benefits for different conditions. We have listed a few major conditions that relieve deep brain stimulation.

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Anorexia nervosa
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke recovery
• Cocaine addiction or addiction to other substances
• Traumatic brain injury
• Thalamic pain syndrome

One of the major advantages of deep brain stimulation surgery is that it does not cause any damage to their brain tissue. There are similar procedures available in the medical industry, such as thalamotomy and pallidotomy, which can cause damages to the brain tissue. Most importantly deep brain stimulation procedure could be reversed.

Deep brain stimulation surgery effectively reduces uncontrolled wiggling motion due to high doses of medication and dyskinesias. Although the patient needs to understand that deep brain stimulation surgery is not the permanent cure for the abovementioned symptoms. It offers temporary relief to the symptoms by reducing the severity.

It helps lower the medication dosage and better manage the underlying condition.

Working Process of Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery:

Deep brain stimulation surgery involves implanting a small electrical device called a neurotransmitter. It is kept in the chest region, where the patient suffers from rigidity, tremors, stiffness, and other neurological issues. Most importantly, the neurotransmitter device will be kept on the device called neurotransmitter will be kept on the patient even after the completion of the surgery.

Neurotransmitters will help the patient properly send electrical signals to different areas of the brain. In such brain areas, the surgeon will be placing electrical leads, which will help deliver the electrical impulses. Sending electrical impulses into different identified regions of the brain will help the patients have proper control over the brain’s electrical activities.

Improper electrical activities in the brain lead to specific neurological disorder symptoms. We need to understand that such specific areas in the brain are mostly responsible for creating different symptoms, including rigidity and tremors. Based on the symptoms experienced by the patient, different areas are targeted during the surgery.

Most importantly, the electrical signals sent by the neurotransmitter will help block the nerve signals sent to the brain. This will help eliminate the symptoms of improper activities in the brain. Entire deep brain stimulation devices consist of three different parts implanted inside the body.

• Neurotransmitter:

This device is a pacemaker with battery power that can be programmable using a special remote control. It creates electrical pulses, and it is placed under the skin of the chest just near the collarbone or in the abdomen.

• Lead:

This is a coated wire with lots of electrodes or contacts at the tip. This device is being placed into the brain, but the extension was through the small skull holes. This wire is responsible for delivering electrical pulses generated by neurotransmitter devices to the different parts of the brain.

• Extension:

It is a kind of insulated wire placed on the skin to connect the neurotransmitter device and the lead. It goes through the head behind the ear and directly down to the chest.

• Hand-held programmer device:

The surgeon uses this device to adjust the electrical stimulation in the device. It also can generate a pulse and toggle it off.

Expectations Before the Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery:

Before the surgery, every patient needs to undergo a below-mentioned medical evaluation.

• CT Scans and/or MRI:

It will help the doctors properly identify and target the correct area of the brain causing the symptoms.

• Blood and Urine Tests:

These tests will help in identifying the abnormalities and toxins in the body.

General Instructions Before the Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery:

These instructions need to be followed for deep brain stimulation surgery. It helps in eliminating any complications before or after the surgery.

• Do not take any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs) for more than one week before you have this surgery.
• Do not use chewing tobacco smoke or even drink alcohol before the week you are having this surgery. This instruction needs to be followed for the next two weeks after completing the surgery. It can increase the risk of bleeding problems that need to be avoided for further complications.
• It is mandatory to get clearance from a general physician or cardiologist. It will help confirm that there is no history of other medical complications or heart conditions because additional health conditions can increase the risk of the surgery.
• Avoid having food, drink, or other medications for Parkinson’s disease or various other conditions. This instruction needs to be followed after midnight before deep brain stimulation surgery.

Cost of Deep Brain Stimulation in Delhi:

The actual cost of deep brain stimulation in Delhi is around 25,000 US dollars which round up to Rs. 18,57,000. Although the variation in the charges entirely depends on the hospital selection and the city. We have estimated approx—the rate in the New Delhi region. The dependent stimulation treatment costs around $70,000 in the US and $60,000 in the UK.

Most importantly, India has the lowest deep brain stimulation treatment cost with an affordable range of plans. There is a constant need to charge the batteries during the surgery for the rechargeable batteries. The charging period should be around 30 minutes to an hour to complete deep brain stimulation surgery.

The cost of deep brain stimulation with rechargeable electrodes ranges between 26,599 U.S. dollars to 33,248 U.S. dollars. The patient needs to stay for three to five days in the hospital during the procedure. For and rest of the week, the patient needs to be completely under bed rest to avoid complications.

Before going forward into deep brain stimulation surgery, the success rate should be understood, which is more than 95%. The patient can always consult with the neurosurgeon regarding the surgery before deciding.