Deep brain stimulator

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Intrathecal

Intrathecal

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Have a patient coming in for EGD/Colonoscopy. He has a deep brain stimulator for Parkinson's Dz/Depression. Possible use of cautery for polypectomy. Asked by GI guy whether stimulator needs to be turned off. I am thinking that we don't need to. What's the right answer?
 
Intrathecal said:
Have a patient coming in for EGD/Colonoscopy. He has a deep brain stimulator for Parkinson's Dz/Depression. Possible use of cautery for polypectomy. Asked by GI guy whether stimulator needs to be turned off. I am thinking that we don't need to. What's the right answer?
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Ask yourself this question: Why are we concerned about cautery in a patient with a pacemaker or AICD?
The answer should be: We don't want the device to misfire or stop working because this can cause some serious badness.
Now what if a brain stimulator misfires or stops working???
The answer: No big deal the worst case would be that the patient would get his symptoms back until you reprogram the device.
I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Planktonmd said:
Ask yourself this question: Why are we concerned about cautery in a patient with a pacemaker or AICD?
The answer should be: We don't want the device to misfire or stop working because this can cause some serious badness.
Now what if a brain stimulator misfires or stops working???
The answer: No big deal the worst case would be that the patient would get his symptoms back until you reprogram the device.
I wouldn't worry about it.
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I dunno. You'd hate for the patient to wake up fluent in Klingon and on a 63-hour circadian rhythm. You might have to reprogram more than just the DBS. 😛
 
its highly unlikely. Im pretty sure the cautery they use is bipolar. Even if its not unless youre slapping the grounding pad on his head, the current has got a loooong way to go to reach the stim.
 
huktonfonix said:
its highly unlikely. Im pretty sure the cautery they use is bipolar. Even if its not unless youre slapping the grounding pad on his head, the current has got a loooong way to go to reach the stim.
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in order to answer this, wouldn't we have to know where the polyp is and where the generator was placed? ex: esophagus and chest wall
 
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