Fast-track programming and rehabilitation model: a novel approach to postoperative deep brain stimulation patient care

OBJECTIVE: To propose a new model of integrated, multidisciplinary postoperative care of the patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS). DESIGN: Observational cohort study with follow-up at 3 months and 1 year. SETTING: Academic medical center movement disorder clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-three consecutive patients with medically refractory Parkinson's disease underwent bilateral DBS. Patients were then transferred directly to an inpatient rehabilitation facility. INTERVENTION: DBS and inpatient programming and rehabilitation. Simultaneous programming and rehabilitation was carried out by a multidisciplinary team. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The FIM instrument, Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and levodopa dosage. RESULTS: The average rehabilitation stay was 17.3 days, with a mean of 6.2 stimulator adjustments during that time. FIM scores improved from 62.1 (admission) to 98.5 (discharge), an average improvement of 36.4 (58.6%). Average UPDRS scores improved from 52.5 (preoperative off) and 30.1 (preoperative on) to 20.4 (3mo postoperative on-medication, on-stimulation), a 32.2% improvement from the preoperative on score. Levodopa dosages decreased by an average of 48.3% (all P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: We describe our fast-track protocol, which allows for rapid DBS programming and tapering of Parkinson's medications. It also provides for treatment of concomitant medical and psychologic problems and optimized physical performance.