Neuromodulation Department at SGVP Hospital

The best things about RFA are the following:

1. It offers a very long-lasting or permanent medicine-free cure for above diseases.

2. RFA gives remarkable improvement in advanced and complex cases, at which stage, there are no other effective alternatives.

3. Patient has no hassle of frequent visits to hospital for programming, which is needed after putting in DBS device, hence RFA is very cost-effective and saves time and effort.

4. It is very safe and comfortable.

5. Above all, it helps the patient regain back his/her dignity and pride by making them independent for daily activities, hence integrating back into professional and social life.

Benefits after RFA procedure are sustained for many many years or permanent in most patients. Hence, it’s a very cost-effective treatment.

Deep brain stimulation is similar to RFA in the way it is done and its benefits. But instead of ablating the target area of brain, a hair-thin electrode is implanted (just like the pacemaker of heart), which is connected to external battery implanted on chest wall. It continues to give pulsatile electrical signals to the brain circuits to improve its function. It is very useful in advanced cases of Parkinson’s disease and selected cases of Dystonia, and is much more expensive than RFA. The patients need regular follow-up visits for many years for programming the device of DBS.

Yes, RF ablation is covered under medical insurance.