Acute urinary retention after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation

Objective: Deep brain stimulation improves motor symptoms and bladder function in Parkinson's disease. Currently there is no evidence of deteriorated bladder function after DBS. We report on two patients who experienced acute transient urinary retention after DBS. Methods: Surgery planning was based on T1 and T2 weighted MRI Images with the patient under general anaesthesia. Multiple microelectrode recordings (MER) were performed intraoperatively in the awake patient before test-stimulation via the macro-tip of the recording electrode. The contact with the widest therapeutic window (low threshold for improvement…