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Intracerebral infections as a complication of deep brain stimulation

Patric Blomstedt1, Hjalmar Bjartmarz

  • 1Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. patric.blomstedt@neuro.umu.se

Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
|February 23, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Intracerebral infections following deep brain stimulation (DBS) are rare but can occur. Prompt diagnosis and treatment, including hardware removal and antibiotics, lead to full recovery in patients with DBS-related infections.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Intracerebral infections are a rare complication of deep brain stimulation (DBS).
  • Literature review reveals limited case reports and no documented instances in a large cohort study.
  • This study presents a case series of four patients experiencing intracerebral infection post-DBS.

Observation:

  • Four patients developed signs of intracerebral infection 2-14 days after undergoing DBS for Parkinson's disease.
  • Cranial CT and MRI scans indicated potential cerebral involvement.
  • Cultures from extracted electrodes were positive in three out of four patients.

Findings:

  • All four patients achieved complete recovery after antibiotic treatment and removal of DBS hardware.
  • Two patients were successfully re-implanted with DBS hardware after recovery.
  • Intracerebral infection, though infrequent, is a potential risk associated with DBS procedures.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider intracerebral infection in the differential diagnosis for patients with neurological symptoms after DBS.
  • Early detection and management are crucial for favorable outcomes.
  • The findings underscore the importance of weighing the risks and benefits of DBS, including infectious complications.

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