Asian Journal of Surgery
Volume 32, Issue 4 , Pages 258-263, October 2009

Complications of Deep Brain Stimulation: A Collective Review

  • Danny T.M. Chan

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
    • ,
  • Xian Lun Zhu

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
    • ,
  • Jonas H.M. Yeung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
    • ,
  • Vincent C.T. Mok

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
    • ,
  • Edith Wong

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
    • ,
  • Clara Lau

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
    • ,
  • Rosanna Wong

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
    • ,
  • Christine Lau

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
    • ,
  • Wai S. Poon

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to Professor Wai S. Poon, Chief of Division, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR
    • ,
  • The Movement Disorder Group

Accepted 14 September 2009.

Article Outline

Background

Since the first deep brain stimulation (DBS) performed for movement disorder more than a decade ago, DBS has become a standard operation for advanced Parkinson's disease. Its indications are expanding to areas of dystonia, psychiatric conditions and refractory epilepsy. Additionally, a new set of DBS-related complications have arisen. Many teams found a slow learning curve from this complication-prone operation. We would like to investigate complications arising from 100 DBS electrode insertions and its prevention.

Methods

We performed an audit in all DBS patients for operation-related complications in our centre from 1997 to 2008. Complications were classified into operation-related, hardware-related and stimulation-related. Operation-related complications included intracranial haemorrhages and electrode malposition. Hardware-related complications included fracture of electrodes, electrode migration, infection and erosion. Stimulation-related complications included sensorimotor conditions, psychiatric conditions and life-threatening conditions.

Results

From 1997 to the end of 2008, 100 DBS electrodes were inserted in 55 patients for movement disorders, mostly for Parkinson's disease (50 patients). There was one symptomatic cerebral haemorrhage (1%) and two electrode malpositions (2%). Meticulous surgical planning, use of microdriver and a reliable electrode anchorage device would minimise this group of complications. There were two electrode fractures, one electrode migration and one pulse-generator infection which contributed to the hardware-related complication rate of 5%. There was no sensorimotor or life-threatening complications in our group. However, three patients suffered from reversible psychiatric symptoms after DBS.

Conclusion

DBS is, on the one hand, an effective surgical treatment for movement disorders. On the other hand, it is a complication-prone operation. A dedicated “Movement Disorder Team” consisting of neurologists, neurophysiologists, functional neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists and nursing specialists is essential. Liaison among team members in perioperative periods and postoperative care is the key to avoiding complications and having a successful patient outcome.

Key Words:  complications , deep brain stimulation , hardware-related , operation-related , stimulation-related

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PII: S1015-9584(09)60404-8

doi:10.1016/S1015-9584(09)60404-8

Asian Journal of Surgery
Volume 32, Issue 4 , Pages 258-263, October 2009

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