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Lightning may pose a danger to patients receiving deep brain stimulation: case report
Neža Prezelj1, Maja Trošt1,2, Dejan Georgiev1
11Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana; and.
Journal of Neurosurgery
|May 2, 2018
Summary
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices can be affected by strong electromagnetic fields (EMFs). A patient with DBS experienced a lightning strike, and her implantable pulse generator (IPG) safely switched off without neurological harm.
Area of Science:
- Neuromodulation
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a crucial therapy for advanced Parkinson's disease and movement disorders.
- Implantable pulse generators (IPGs) used in DBS are known to be vulnerable to strong electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
- Potential risks include interference with IPG function, induction currents in electrodes, and even brain damage.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old woman with a rechargeable DBS system for neck dystonia experienced a direct lightning strike at her residence.
- The lightning strike caused significant damage to domestic electronic devices within the apartment.
- The patient's IPG automatically switched off during the event.
Findings:
- Despite the extreme electromagnetic event caused by the lightning strike, the patient's IPG remained undamaged.
- The patient experienced no adverse neurological consequences following the lightning strike.
- This case demonstrates the resilience of modern DBS IPGs to severe natural EMF exposure.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that DBS IPGs may possess a higher degree of protection against extreme EMFs than previously assumed.
- This case highlights the importance of understanding the interaction between natural phenomena and implanted medical devices.
- Further research into the protective mechanisms and limitations of DBS systems in extreme electromagnetic environments is warranted.
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