DBS emergency surgery for treatment of dystonic storm associated with rhabdomyolysis and acute colitis in DYT-GNAO1

Introduction Patients with variants in the GNAO1 gene may present with life-threatening dystonic storm. There is little experience using pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS) as an emergency treatment in such cases. Case description We report on a 16-year-old girl with a variant in the GNAO1 gene (c.626G > T; p.(Arg209Leu)) who was admitted to the intensive care unit with medically refractory dystonic storm with secondary complications inducing rhabdomyolysis and acute colitis. Emergency pallidal DBS resulted in rapid improvement of dystonic storm and the subsidence of rhabdomyolysis and colitis. There were no further episodes of dystonic storm during follow-up of 2 years. Conclusion Pallidal DBS is a useful treatment option for GNAO1-related dystonic storm with secondary complications which can be performed as an emergency surgery.