Breast reconstruction in a patient with an implanted deep brain stimulator

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Deep brain stimulators (DBS) are utilized for refractory movement disorders like Parkinson's disease.
• Chest-implanted DBS pose challenges for breast reconstruction due to potential cautery-induced heat damage.
• Monopolar electrocautery risks DBS malfunction and neurological damage.

Observation:

• A patient with a chest-implanted DBS required one-stage implant-based breast reconstruction.
• The DBS was temporarily deactivated prior to the surgical procedure.
• Minimal power settings were employed for monopolar electrocautery during subcutaneous pocket creation for the breast implant.

Findings:

• The breast reconstruction surgery was completed successfully in a single stage.
• The DBS was reactivated immediately following the breast reconstruction.
• The patient experienced an uneventful postoperative recovery with the DBS functioning normally.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates a safe and effective method for performing breast reconstruction in patients with DBS.
• Careful management of electrocautery is crucial to prevent DBS complications during oncologic or reconstructive surgery.
• Further research may explore optimized surgical techniques for patients with implanted electronic devices undergoing breast surgery.