Parkinson's disease patients with long-term L-dopa syndrome may benefit from an implanted cerebral stimulation device. When advanced life support demands cardioversion or defibrillation in these patients, undesired effects of monophasic electroshocks might occur in brain tissue adjacent to the stimulation electrodes (e.g., thermal injury), but also in the stimulation device itself. Thus, in this animal study (n = 6 pigs), we investigated the effects of repeated defibrillation (2 x 200 J [n = 1] and 2 x 360 J [n = 5]) at the implantation site of cerebral stimulation electrodes and on stimulation device function. Repeated external cardiac defibrillation did not cause acute histopathologic changes typical of thermal injury to brain tissue adjacent to the cerebral stimulation electrodes. Functionality of the stimulator device after defibrillation, however, ranged from normal to total loss of function. Therefore, when defibrillation is performed, the greatest possible distance between the defibrillation site and the stimulator device implantation site should be considered. Subsequent testing of the stimulator device's function is mandatory.
Implications: Repeated cardiac defibrillation did not cause histopathologic changes typical of thermal injury at the implantation site of cerebral stimulation electrodes. The function of the stimulator device after defibrillation, however, ranged from normal to total loss of function.