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Rapid battery depletion and loss of therapy due to a short circuit in bipolar DBS for essential tremor

  • Case Report - Functional
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Abstract

Technical dysfunctions have been reported reducing efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS). Here, we report on an essential-tremor patient in whom a short circuit in bipolar DBS resulted not only in unilateral loss of therapy but also in high current flow and thereby rapid decline of the impulse-generator battery voltage from 2.83 V a week before the event to 2.54 V, indicating the need for an impulse-generator replacement. Immediate re-programming restored therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, the reduction in current flow allowed the battery voltage to recover without immediate surgical intervention to 2.81 V a week later.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurological Rehabilitation Center Godeshoehe, Waldstrasse 2-10, 53177, Bonn, Germany

    Niels Allert

  2. Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 9, 50924, Köln, Germany

    Michael Thomas Barbe & Lars Timmermann

  3. Department of Neurology, University Hospital Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35043, Marburg, Germany

    Lars Timmermann

  4. Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Medical Center and Medical Faculty, Freiburg University, 79106, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    Volker Arnd Coenen

Authors
  1. Niels Allert
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  2. Michael Thomas Barbe
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  3. Lars Timmermann
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  4. Volker Arnd Coenen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Niels Allert.

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Conflict of interest

Niels Allert has received honoraria from Medtronic for lecturing and consulting. Michael T. Barbe has received speaker’s honoraria from Medtronic and GE. Lars Timmermann reports grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Medtronic, grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Boston Scientific, personal fees and non-financial support from SAPIENS, grants, personal fees and non-financial support from St. Jude Medical. Volker Arnd Coenen has received honoraria and travel support from Medtronic (USA, Europe), Boston Scientific (USA) and St. Jude Medical (USA). He has ongoing IITs with Medtronic and Boston Scientific with minimal financial support.

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Allert, N., Barbe, M.T., Timmermann, L. et al. Rapid battery depletion and loss of therapy due to a short circuit in bipolar DBS for essential tremor. Acta Neurochir 159, 795–798 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3090-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3090-7

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