High frequency deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus versus continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion therapy: a review

Abstract

In advanced Parkinson's disease, several therapeutical option including not only lesional surgery (VIM, GPi) and deep brain stimulation (STN, GPi, VIM) but also continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion therapy can be proposed to the patient. The choice depends on the hope of the patient, patient's general health condition and the experience and choice of the neurosurgical and neurologist team. Here we report our experience based on 400 STN-DBS cases and we discuss, on the basis of our experience and on the literature, the advantage and disadvantage of DBS strategy as compared with non-surgical option such as continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion therapy.