Remote telemedicine evaluation of deep brain stimulation candidacy

Abstract

Objective To determine whether initial presurgical evaluation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) candidacy with video telemedicine (VTEL) can reliably predict surgical candidacy (patients who will eventually undergo DBS surgery) and decrease resource utilization when compared to an in-person evaluation. Methods In this retrospective, cohort analysis, all out-of-state referrals to the San Francisco Veterans Affairs from 2008 to 2013 for DBS therapy were reviewed and their surgical outcomes were assessed until 2017. Patients were designated as good, borderline, or poor surgical candidates after initial evaluation, and their rates of undergoing DBS were recorded. An assessment of patient travel costs was performed. Results There were 60 out-of-state DBS referrals identified out of the 148 initial presurgical DBS evaluations completed for surgical treatment of dystonia, essential tremor, or Parkinson disease; 24 patients underwent in-person consultation and 36 patients underwent evaluation via VTEL. There was no difference between the rates of undergoing surgical treatment with DBS based on surgical candidacy for patients in the in-person and VTEL cohorts. Patients who underwent initial presurgical screening via VTEL saved time and money. Conclusions VTEL can be used to facilitate presurgical screening for DBS and saves costs.