GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A neurosurgeon with Corewell Health earlier this summer performed the first incisionless brain procedure for patients with essential tremor or tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease.
Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids was the first hospital in the state to offer this treatment, known as focused ultrasound, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2016.
The platform was installed at Butterworth Hospital in late April. The first two procedures were performed by Dr. Luyuan Li, functional neurologist with Corewell Health, in mid-May.
Over the past 30 years, patients whose tremors were no longer managed by medication had to undergo deep brain stimulation, where electrodes are surgically implanted into the areas of the brain responsible for tremors.
“Deep brain stimulation was the gold standard to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremors,” Li said. “I still do them today. It’s a highly effective therapy for the right patients, but it’s deeply invasive. Patients have to be put under anesthesia, and they have to stay in the hospital overnight.”
FUS, however, uses the same sound waves used in heart and pregnancy ultrasounds to pinpoint the same areas of the brain targeted in DBS. Guided by MRI, the surgeon uses the focused ultrasound waves to heat the areas and create tiny lesions, which stop the signals causing the tremor.
The outpatient procedure only takes 1-2 hours and often results in immediate improvement and minimal complications for patients who have long endured debilitating hand tremors.
There are, however, risks and side effects, the most common being temporary balance issues following the procedure that could last up to a month. Because of temporary swelling on the brain following the procedure, some patients may experience tingling or numbness in the hands or corners of the mouth, Li said.
“Because of these temporary side effects, we have an integrated team here to help reduce the side effects,” Li said. “Whenever patients see me, they will also see a physical therapist at the same time to get a baseline balance test, and right after the procedure they will see the physical therapist again.”
Don Stadt, 73, of Grand Rapids suffered from essential tremors for a long time prior to undergoing FUS treatment in May. Medication was no longer effective, and basic tasks like writing or holding a glass of water became a daily struggle, Li said.
“Essential tremor is a progressive disease, and it usually gets worse as we age,” Li said. “But with focused ultrasound, his tremor got immediately better while he was on the MRI table. That same day he was able to drink a glass of water steadily again and write his name.”
Stadt’s entire hospital visit was about 2 hours, with his time in the MRI taking just 45 minutes, Li said.
Patients and caregivers interested in the procedure can email fusinfo@corewellhealth.org or call 616-391-6990.
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