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Battery Replacement
At some point , the DBS battery will need to be replaced . This could be anywhere from three to five years to a decade or more , depending on the device , whether the battery is rechargeable and how high your settings are . Your programmer checks the battery at each visit so you can plan for replacement .
During replacement , the old battery is removed , a new battery — sometimes updated based on the latest technology — is placed in the same spot , and the existing brain leads are connected to the new battery .
This is usually done under IV sedation , which means you are asleep but breathing on your own . People who are sensitive to anesthesia or otherwise wish to avoid it may be able to have the battery replaced without going to sleep , using numbing medication around the incision . Discuss potential options with your surgeon and anesthesiologist and ask why they recommend what they do .
The whole procedure takes about 30 minutes . If additional steps are needed , like repositioning , rather than just replacing , the battery , it may take a little longer . You go home the same day . Battery replacement should be done by the same neurosurgeon who placed your first battery or another neurosurgeon who is familiar with DBS and battery changes . Ask for a referral , if needed , and ask the surgeon about their experience and complication rates .
For many , battery replacement is quick and easy . The same settings are programmed and there ’ s not much recovery or adjustment time . But , any surgery , hospital stay or stress can temporarily worsen Parkinson ’ s symptoms . And any procedure when living with Parkinson ’ s should be taken seriously .
Complications with battery replacement don ’ t happen often . But possible risks include :
+ Lead swap When existing brain leads are attached to the new battery , they can , inadvertently , be plugged into the wrong channel . This can happen because the leads look the same and they travel closely together .
If this happens , the left brain lead settings are delivered through the right side and vice versa . This can cause increased symptoms . The key is for doctors to catch the mix-up immediately , note it in your medical chart , and communicate it to you and your DBS providers and programmers . It ’ s easy to work around this by simply swapping settings so that each side is programmed as it was before battery replacement .
+ Lead movement Rarely , a wire can move within the brain . During battery replacement , the surgeon gently disconnects leads from the old battery and attaches them to the new one . If this movement is a little too strong , because of scar tissue or other challenges , the wire could move from its target in the brain . Lead location is very precise , so even slight movement can cause less benefit and more symptoms . If lead movement is a concern , your doctor will order a brain scan to check placement . They ’ ll also adjust settings to see if they can still control symptoms , even though a lead may be a little off target . If this is not successful , you may need surgery to reposition or replace the lead .
+ Overstimulation When nearing the need for replacement , a battery gradually loses power . When this happens , your programmer might need to increase settings to get the right amount of stimulation to ease symptoms . When a new battery , with full power , is put in , you may experience too much stimulation . This could
Life with DBS