With Activa® DBS, a team consisting of a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, and nurses is involved in caring for you. The Activa DBS System is implanted by a highly specialized neurosurgeon who uses MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computer tomography) scanning to map the brain. The lead is inserted through a small opening in the skull and is implanted in a target site within the brain. Even though the brain itself feels no pain, the skull is numbed to minimize any possible discomfort.
There are two parts to the Activa DBS implant procedure:
1) The procedure to implant the leads, and 2) The procedure to implant the neurostimulator and extensions. The duration of the procedure and the specific steps involved can vary. The procedure will last several hours. The hospital stay is usually a day or two for the preoperative tests, implant procedure, and recovery.
People who have undergone the Activa DBS implant procedure usually describe it as demanding and exhausting but not painful.