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HealthNIMS Hyderabad slashes deep brain stimulation surgery time to 1-2 hours from 5-6 hours
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The Department of Neurosurgery at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad, India, has introduced an advanced technique that reduces Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery duration from the conventional 5-6 hours to just 1-2 hours in select patients. Led by Dr. Y. Vamsi Krishna, the procedure combines advanced imaging, precise surgical planning, and refined operative methods, allowing surgery under general anaesthesia instead of the traditional awake craniotomy. DBS is used to treat movement disorders like Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. The team received specialized training at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London. Over 200 DBS surgeries have been performed at NIMS in the past two-and-a-half years. Additionally, NIMS has introduced MRI-guided radiofrequency ablation for medication-resistant tremors, targeting the dentato-rubro-thalamic (DRT) pathway without permanent implants. This treatment, costing around ₹5 lakh in private hospitals, is provided free to eligible underprivileged patients through the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Source report
Updated - July 26, 2026 06:34 pm IST | HYDERABAD
By The Hindu Bureau
The Department of Neurosurgery at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad, has introduced an advanced technique that significantly reduces the duration of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery — from the conventional five to six hours to just one to two hours in selected patients.
According to NIMS, the procedure was implemented by Dr. Y. Vamsi Krishna, head of the Department of Neurosurgery. The institute stated that the technique combines advanced imaging, precise surgical planning, and refined operative methods, enabling DBS procedures to be performed under general anaesthesia instead of the conventional awake craniotomy approach.
About Deep Brain Stimulation
DBS is used to treat movement disorders such as:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Essential tremor
- Dystonia
Traditionally, patients undergoing the surgery are required to remain awake for several hours while electrodes are implanted in specific areas of the brain.
Training and Experience
The institute said the neurosurgery team adopted the technique after receiving specialised training at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London. It added that more than 200 DBS surgeries have been performed at NIMS over the past two-and-a-half years.
Additional Development: MRI-Guided Ablation
In a related development, NIMS has introduced MRI-guided radiofrequency ablation for patients with tremors that do not respond to medication. The procedure uses advanced MRI sequences to accurately identify and target the dentato-rubro-thalamic (DRT) pathway and does not require implantation of any permanent device.
The treatment, which costs around ₹5 lakh in private hospitals, is being provided free of cost to eligible underprivileged patients through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Published - July 26, 2026 06:32 pm IST
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NIMS Hyderabad reduces deep brain stimulation surgery time with new technique