Surgical morbidity of invasive monitoring in epilepsy surgery: an experience from a single institution

Abstract

Aim: This paper aimed to provide information related to surgical and neurological complications encountered following intracranial electrode placements in patients with medically intractable epilepsy. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of 70 patients with either subdural grid/strip or depth electrode implanted between 2004 and 2009 at the Epilepsy Unit in Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty. Results: A total of 276 electrode implantations were performed in 70 patients. There were no deaths related to implantation. The occurrence of infection and intracranial hematoma were found to be 1.4 and 1.4%, respectively. A total of 1 patient (1.4%) showed transient neurological complications. The rate of overall morbidity including neurological complications was found to be 4.2% (n = 3). CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, intracranial electrode implantation is an effective and safe method with extremely low morbidity rate, especially in experienced hands.