Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of different brain nuclei is a treatment for multiple brain
disorders. The subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus have been used to treat advanced
Parkinson's disease for a long time. The ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus is an
effective target for treating essential tremor patients. STN and the internal segment of the
globus pallidus are useful targets for treating dystonia.
To achieve this optimal electrode localization, many centers perform electrophysiological
mapping of the target nuclei using microelectrode recording (MER). This way they can achieve
precise localization of the electrode. During the mapping procedure, microelectrodes are
passed through the target nuclei, and the electrical neuronal activity is observed and
recorded. The surgical team can identify the precise location of the target nuclei and its
borders according to the typical activity of its neurons.
This study will compare the activity of neurons in several DBS targets before, during and
after sedation with propofol, remifentanil and dexmedetomidine. The goal is to understand the
effects of anesthetics on the neuronal activity in these targets, allowing us to choose the
most appropriate sedation protocol to use during implantation of DBS electrodes in deep brain
structures (bearing in mind that each structure may have a different optimal protocol).