By John W. and Nisha Whitehead
March 29, 2022
Source: Stanford Medicine | Health Care
Photo Source: Unsplash, Carolina Heza
Many inside and outside of the medical industry have raised concerns regarding unnecessary medications and treatments that cause more harm than good as in the Movie "The Bleeding Edge" How can the following treatments lead to disease mongering; cause more harm than good and contribute to misdiagnosis of "mental health" patients?
Brain Devices
The Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Program offers the latest, innovative brain devices used to treat seizures unresponsive to medications. Some of these devices are available at only a few medical centers in the nation. Stanford offers the responsive neurostimulation (RNS) system, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and surgery using a MRI-guided laser-based device. Patient also have access to investigational devices through our clinical trials.
Responsive neurostimulation (RNS) system (NeuroPace®) This device is the world's only responsive neurostimulation (RNS) system and received FDA clearance in 2013. Stanford doctors have been studying the technology since 2004, and implanted the first RNS system in 2014.
The battery-powered and microprocessor-controlled device is placed within the skull and beneath the scalp. It is connected to one or two leads that are placed within the brain or rest on the brain's surface in the area of the seizure focus. The procedure does not involve removal of any brain tissue.
The RNS system continuously monitors brain electrical activity, senses abnormal electrical activity and responds by delivering unnoticeable pulses of electrical stimulation to normalize that activity before an individual experiences seizures.
Doctors personalize therapy for each patient by programming the detection and stimulation settings of the device in a non-invasive way. At home, patients can monitor and transmit recordings of their brain electrical activity and other information. The patient's doctor can review and analyze this information between his or her clinic appointments. RNS system implant procedures are covered by most insurance companies.
* The RNS system is manufactured by NeuroPace, Inc. Martha Morrell, MD, clinical professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford, has worked on the development and testing of the device since 1998, but in compliance with Stanford's conflict of interest policy, will not prescribe the device.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) This procedure involves implantation of a cigarette-lighter-sized pacemaker under the skin of the chest, with a wire run subcutaneously to the left vagus nerve in the neck. No brain surgery is involved. Research has shown that intermittent stimulation of the vagus nerve can lower the frequency and intensity of seizures in 25-50% of individuals who use the technique. The stimulator is programmed to come on for 30 seconds of every 5 minutes, but the timing can easily be adjusted. In addition, patients or family can carry a magnet to turn the stimulator on when a seizure is being felt.
The main side effect of VNS is unpleasant sensations in the throat, and hoarseness of the voice when stimulation is on. Some individuals prefer this to the usual medication-related side effects such as drowsiness, unsteadiness and fuzzy thinking. However, VNS usually does not render a patient fully seizure-free and off seizure medications. It may permit a reduction in medications. VNS is not curative therapy, and so it is not a substitute for other epilepsy surgeries that have a good chance to cure.
VNS is not advised if seizures are easily controlled by medicines. Our clinic finds VNS most useful for people who do not respond to or cannot tolerate medicines, but who are not candidates for curative surgery. Partial (focal) seizures are the types of seizures most studied, but VNS may be useful for other types of seizures as well.
In addition, studies are underway to evaluate possible benefit of VNS for depression, pain, headaches and various other conditions. If the VNS is not working, it usually can be removed (sometime the neck wire has to remain). Batteries fail after about 5 years, and require replacement in a minor operation.
MRI-guided thermal laser ablation system (Visualase®) This laser-based device provides a minimally invasive approach to epilepsy surgery. Laser energy safely destroys tissue in regions of the brain thought to be the source of seizures under MRI guidance, and surrounding brain tissue is largely spared.
Due to the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, Visualase® holds promise for reducing procedure duration and hospital stay for patients. It also has tremendous cosmetic advantages compared to traditional surgery, causes less pain and discomfort, and may minimize cognitive decline associated with standard tissue removal surgeries.
How can such practices impact your health? Your life? Why?
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