Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease: Subthalamic Nucleus

The current popularity and widespread acceptance of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease (PD) began in the early 1990s after publications from teams in Grenoble and Lille introduced the concept of DBS to ameliorate abnormal movements without destroying tissue. The most common targets for DBS in PD are the ventral intermediate nucleus (Vim), globus pallidus internus (GPi), and subthalamic nucleus (STN). Currently, DBS of the STN is the most common surgical procedure for PD. This chapter highlights this operation and discusses (i) the rationale for neurostimulation of the STN, (ii) referral criteria to select the ideal patient, (iii) outcome, (iv) stimulation parameters, and (v) potential side effects and complications.