The Parkland Memorial Hospital depth electrode monitoring experience: technique and morbidity

At Parkland Memorial Hospital, a standardized depth electrode technique has been applied in selected patients with intractable partial epilepsy since 1985. The procedure is described, and these cases were retrospectively reviewed for mortality, morbidity, and technical complications. All patients underwent symmetrical stereotactically guided implantation of six semirigid electrodes using a Brown-Roberts-Wells apparatus via two frontal burr holes (targets: posterior gyrus rectus, amygdala, and hippocampus). Of 127 cases, 123 charts were reviewed; average duration of implantation was 8.7 days. There were no deaths. Major clinical morbidity was 3.3% ( 4 123): one neurologically devastating venous infarct and three intracranial infections with excellent clinical outcomes. Three patients (2.4%) required a return to the operating room due to technical complications compromising data collection.