Some neurological conditions require admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) 
where deep sedation and mechanical ventilation are administered to improve the 
patient's condition. Nevertheless, these treatments are not always helpful in 
disease control. At this stage, deep brain stimulation (DBS) could become a 
viable alternative in the treatment of critical neurological conditions with 
long-lasting clinical benefit. The value of deep brain stimulation has been 
investigated in the treatment of patients who had undergone surgical electrode 
implants as an emergency procedure to treat acute life-threatening conditions 
requiring admission to neurological ICU (NICU). A before-and-after perspective 
study was examined of seven patients who were treated with DBS for status 
dystonicus (SD) and post-stroke severe hemiballismus. Bilateral globus pallidus 
internus (GPi) DBS was performed in five SD patients and unilateral ventralis 
oralis anterior and posterior (Voa/Vop) nucleus of the thalamus DBS in two 
post-stroke hemiballismus patients. Bilateral GPi-DBS allowed SD resolution in a 
time lapse varying from 1 week to 3 months. No clear improvements compared to 
the baseline clinical condition were observed. Unilateral Voa/Vop-DBS 
intervention controlled hemiballismus after 10 h, and the patient was discharged 
in 2 days. The other patient was transferred from the NICU to the neurosurgery 
ward after 13 days. No surgical complications were observed in any of the above 
procedures. Neurostimulation procedures could represent a valuable choice in 
critical care conditions, when involuntary movements are continuous, 
life-threatening and refractory to intensive care procedures. DBS is feasible, 
safe and effective in selected cases.