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Delayed complications of deep brain stimulation: 16-year experience in 249 patients

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Abstract

Background

Over the years, most of the deep brain stimulation (DBS) complications described have been mainly related to the surgery itself or the stimulation. Only a few authors have dealt with chronic complications or complications due to implanted material.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed complications beyond the 1st month after surgery in 249 patients undergoing DBS at our site for 16 years, with 321 interventions overall.

Results

Our results show that infection is the most frequent delayed complication (12.5%), the pulse generator being the most common location. Lead breaks (9.3%) are the second most frequent complication. Symptomatic peri-lead edema and cyst formation were exceptional.

Conclusions

The best knowledge about DBS complications allows for better solutions. In case of infection, conservative treatment or partial removal of the DBS system appears to be safe and reasonable. Intracranial complications related to DBS material such as peri-lead edema and cyst formation have a good prognosis. They may appear long after DBS implantation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Gustavo Fernández-Pajarín, A. Sesar, B. Ares & A. Castro

  2. Department of Neurophysiology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    J. L. Relova

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    E. Arán & M. Gelabert-González

Authors
  1. Gustavo Fernández-Pajarín
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  2. A. Sesar
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  3. B. Ares
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  4. J. L. Relova
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  5. E. Arán
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  6. M. Gelabert-González
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  7. A. Castro
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gustavo Fernández-Pajarín.

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No funding was received for this research.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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For this type of study, formal or informed consent is not required.

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Fernández-Pajarín, G., Sesar, A., Ares, B. et al. Delayed complications of deep brain stimulation: 16-year experience in 249 patients. Acta Neurochir 159, 1713–1719 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3252-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3252-7

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