Deep brain stimulation for tremor and dystonia (excluding Parkinson's disease)
Summary
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on deep brain stimulation for tremor and dystonia (excluding Parkinson's disease).
Description
This procedure involves inserting very fine needles into the brain through small holes made in the skull to determine the exact position of the nucleus, which may be different in each patient. This part of the procedure is usually carried out under local anaesthetic. Once the nucleus is identified, a permanent electrode is placed into it. Under general anaesthetic, this electrode is then connected to a pulse generator, which is implanted subcutaneously on the anterior chest wall.
OPCS code:
A09.1 Implantation of neurostimulator into brain
or
A09.5 Insertion of neurostimulator electrodes into the brain
Y70.5 Temporary operations
Note: In a case where the electrode leads are implanted temporarily, to test whether the intervention is likely to be effective, but the pulse generator device is not implanted under the patient’s skin, a code for ?insertion of neurostimulator electrodes? is utilised. The code A09.1 Implantation of neurostimulator into brain is for when the device is implanted permanently under the skin.
The NHS Classifications Service of NHS Connecting for Health is the central definitive source for clinical coding guidance and determines the coding standards associated with the classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) to be used across the NHS. The NHS Classifications Service and NICE work collaboratively to ensure the most appropriate classification codes are provided. www.connectingforhealth.co.uk/clinicalcoding
Details
Contact details:
(for general enquiries or comments)
(for procedure specific enquiries or comments)
ip@nice.org.uk
Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA
