gms | German Medical Science

57. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e. V. (DGNC)
Joint Meeting mit der Japanischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC) e. V.

11. bis 14.05.2006, Essen

Deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic area for the treatment of chronic cluster headache

Tiefenhirnstimulation im Hypothalamus zur Behandlung von chronischem Cluster-Kopfschmerz

Meeting Abstract

Suche in Medline nach

  • corresponding author D. Rasche - Neurochirurgische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck
  • V.M. Tronnier - Neurochirurgische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Japanische Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 57. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e.V. (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit der Japanischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Essen, 11.-14.05.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. DocSO.08.05

Die elektronische Version dieses Artikels ist vollständig und ist verfügbar unter: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/dgnc2006/06dgnc213.shtml

Veröffentlicht: 8. Mai 2006

© 2006 Rasche et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

Objective: Chronic cluster headache (CCH) is one of the frequent headache syndromes with unilateral, attack-like pain of severe intensity. Pharmacological therapy is usually the treatment of choice. PET and SPECT investigations revealed an increased activity in the hypothalamic area during pain attacks. Based on these results, some single centres worldwide perform deep brain stimulation (DBS) as an alternative and invasive treament option for patients with medically refractory CCH. A single case is reported, the theoretical neurophysiological mode of action, the effectiveness of DBS and a literature review are presented.

Methods: A 39-year-old woman suffered from chronic left-sided cluster headache for 14 months. Pharmacological treatment was ineffective or major side effects occurred. Using a stereotactic frame and target definition a DBS electrode (3387-28, Medtronic, Minneapolis, USA) was inserted in the posterior hypothalamic area and typical side effects such as dizziness, tachycardia, panic attacks or diplopia were evoked intraoperatively by supra-threshold stimulation.

Results: At the end of the operation, a cluster attack happened and was immediately stopped by activating subthreshold DBS. During a test trial with different stimulation parameters, the patient was pain-free with constant subthreshold DBS. If DBS was only activated at the beginning of cluster attacks, these were immediately stopped by the subthreshold stimulation. During the subthreshold DBS, no side-effects such as tachycardia or hydrouria were registered or mentioned by the patient. Because of this result, the stimulation device was internalized after seven days.

Conclusions: DBS of the ipsilateral posterior hypothalamus is able to suppress cluster attacks in patients with pharmacologically refractory CCH. The definite mode of action and data concerning the long-term follow-up are not known and need to be investigated.