The technique used in Colombia in brain surgery against severe depression

Dr. William Omar Contreras López developed an innovative method for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery, which is used to treat severe cases of depression.

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This pioneering technique combines the simultaneous implantation of four electrodes in different brain regions involved in emotion and behavior; it uses personalized connectomics and brain tractography to precisely guide surgical pathways based on the dysfunctional circuits identified in each patient.

According to the specialist, the electrodes were strategically placed to modulate deep circuits related to motivation, anxiety, sadness and obsessive rumination .

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"This approach represents a breakthrough in precision medicine applied to mental health, and although pioneering, it is part of a progressive evolution of functional neurosurgery in Colombia, driven by the ethical use of technology and a deep understanding of the brain circuits involved in psychiatric disorders," Contreras said.

The procedure was performed at the International Hospital of Colombia (HIC) on a 38-year-old woman who had been diagnosed more than two decades ago with a mixed condition of depression and anxiety.

"Invasive surgery, which involves placing rice-sized electrodes in the brain, isn't the first time it's been performed in the world, but it is the first time four electrodes have been used," Contreras said.

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The doctor clarified that the results of the procedure are "not" a definitive cure for depression . The goal is to offer patients an alternative that improves their quality of life .

"We don't cure anything, but we do improve the patient's quality of life. She can go out again, work, socialize, and feel interested in a partner," the doctor explained about the patient's procedure.