Article
Knowledge about DBS surgery of referring physicians – results of the DBSurvey
Was wissen „Nicht Neurochirurgen“ über DBS? Ergebnisse des DBSurvey
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Published: | June 4, 2021 |
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Objective: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become an accepted therapeutic alternative for a multitude of neuropsychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, many more patients could be potentially treated with DBS. This raises the question, if clinicians are too reserved regarding DBS treatment and what could be underlying reasons. Therefore, the Swiss physicians and medical students current state of knowledge, experience with and expectations from DBS was evaluated.
Methods: A comprehensive nationwide online survey among referring physicians including general practitioners (GP), neurologists and psychiatrists as well as among students from all medical schools in Switzerland was conducted. The survey web forms consisted of multiple choice and open questions and were available in German, French and Italian language.
Results: Data from 401 responses was analyzed. General knowledge regarding DBS principles was high (“good knowledge” n=140, “heard of it” n=228, “never heard of it” n=32) with mainly positive (34%) and only few negative (4%) experiences reported. The risk of permanent neurological deficit (6%±9%), surgical site infection (6%±8%) and hemorrhage (6%±7%) associated with DBS was estimated as comparable and increased. Expected motor symptoms relief due to stimulation was estimated to be 20-80%, whereas non-motor symptoms were presumed as responding not sufficiently by the majority of participants (90% and 49%, respectively). Parkinson’s disease and tremor were considered as validated indications by most respondents (79% and 55%, respectively). Up to 40% of patients were estimated possible candidates for surgery. For epilepsy patients, most physicians preferred DBS over a classic lesionectomy (n=209 vs. n=71, “don’t know” n=109).
Conclusion: For the majority of physicians and doctors-to-be in Switzerland, the results of this survey revealed a gratifying solid basic knowledge of DBS and its potential, a mainly positive acceptance and relatively realistic expectancies regarding clinical results, response rates and associated risks of DBS therapy.