Deep Brain Stimulation Program
The Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) program at Boston University Medical Campus is a collaborative medical and surgical program offered by the departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery for the treatment of movement disorders. Parkinson’s disease and Essential Tremor are treated with this procedure. This multidisciplinary program combines the efforts of the departments of neurosurgery, neurology, neuropsychiatry, behavioral medicine, anesthesiology, and nursing. Neurosurgical interventions for Parkinson’s disease and tremor have been offered at BUMC since 1996.
A multi-step screening process is used to carefully select Parkinson’s patients for this procedure. Some patients who may be candidates for surgery include: 1) patients who do not have good movement control despite optimized medical therapy and 2) patients who have dyskinesia or other side effects which limit the use of Parkinson’s medications.
In the selection process patients are referred by their neurologist for a screening neurological consultation by the neurological DBS program director, Dr. Samuel Ellias. Patients are evaluated with a brain MRI, neuropsychological testing and movement testing with videotaping. The Parkinson’s Day program facilities are used for the motor testing and to assess patient and family understanding and expectations of the procedure. A psychological interview is performed, as needed, to screen for affective disorders. These findings are reviewed by a panel of movement disorder neurologists and nurses in regular meetings before referring the patient to the neurosurgeon for further evaluation. The patient is then seen and evaluated by the DBS neurosurgical director, Dr Keith Davies.
Often, further optimization of medications is conducted as part of this evaluation.
Further education and support for DBS patients, family members, and caregivers is readily available at regular monthly meetings of the BUMC DBS patient support group.
After DBS surgery, follow up neurological care and adjustments of medications and DBS neurostimulators is conducted by Dr Samuel Ellias and Dr Anna Hohler in conjunction with DBS nurses Keith Ciccone and Melissa Diggin.
Community Educational Support
Dr. Samuel Ellias has lectured extensively on DBS and movement disorders. He is available to give lectures on the medical and surgical treatment of Parkinson’s disease to patient support groups in New England area.
For Further Information
Keith Ciccone
DBS Nurse Coordinator
(617) 638-7749
DBS Personnel
Movement Disorder Neurologists
- Samuel A. Ellias, MD, PhD, Neurological Director of DBS Program
- Marie Saint Hilaire, MD, FRCPC, Director of Movement Disorders
- Samuel Frank, MD
- Anna Hohler, MD
Movement Disorder Nurses
- Keith Ciccone, BS, LPN, DBS Nurse Coordinator
- Melissa Diggin, GNP
- Cathi Thomas, RN, MS, Parkinson’s Program Director
Neurosurgeon
- Keith Davies, MD, Neurosurgical Director of the DBS Program
