Complications of Stereotactic Brain Surgery

Abstract Stereotactic surgery refers to an image-guided neurosurgical procedure in which three-dimensional targeting is used to facilitate a diagnostic or therapeutic goal in the brain. A surgical complication is defined as an adverse event that occurs either during surgery or within a 30-day postoperative interval. Such a complication must arise as a direct consequence of the surgery or its associated administration of anesthesia or other medical care. Traditionally, stereotactic surgery uses a stereotactic head frame to register accurately highresolution neurodiagnostic brain images for use in surgery. Most frame-based stereotactic procedures involve accessing brain targets using probes, electrodes, or catheters through small cranial openings. The use of closed-skull, single-treatment session irradiation to manage brain disease (stereotactic radiosurgery) is an important and increasingly used approach. Invisible radiation beams replace rigid surgical instruments.