What tests are needed prior to surgery?
Patients should have a brain imaging study (MRI or CT) to determine if there are problems in the brain that would pose excessive risk for surgery, unless one has been done within 1 year. Most patients should have a formal neurological exam in the off-medication condition, following by re-assessment after a test dose of medication, by one of our neurologists or by the referring neurologist. For any patient with a question of cognitive dysfunction, we request formal neuropsychological evaluation. All patients must have a blood test (mainly for blood clotting ability) and visit with the anesthesiologists in the week prior to surgery. For patients interested in the interventional MRI implantation protocol, the patients must have an “on medication, off medication” test once before surgery and then again approximately 6 months after surgery.
