Deep Brain Stimulation Targeting the Ventral Intermediate Nucleus of the Thalamus for Parkinsonian Tremor and Later Adding the Globus Pallidus Interna for Parkinson Disease Features

Abstract

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the ventral intermediate (Vim) nucleus of thalamus has been established as an effective therapy for patients with debilitating essential tremor. However, some patients initially diagnosed with essential tremor (ET) later develop idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD), and Vim DBS is not as effective for other PD-related symptoms, including bradykinesia, rigidity, and dyskinesia. This chapter describes a patient with PD who initially presented with debilitating right-dominant tremor that was misdiagnosed as ET. He received bilateral Vim DBS with good tremor control. Two years later, he received bilateral globus pallidus internus (GPi) DBS for progression of his PD, and he has been reporting adequate relief of his PD symptoms. For patients with debilitating tremor, but relatively mild or no parkinsonian symptoms on presentation, after medical trials have been administered, a Vim DBS is a reasonable option for tremor relief. A second DBS placement targeting the GPi or subthalamic nucleus (STN) may be considered if more parkinsonian symptoms evolve and progress.