Background: Candidates for deep brain stimulation (DBS) must be carefully evaluated to balance expected benefits with the possibility of serious complications. Several predictive factors exist but are imperfect.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether linear measurements of the lateral ventricles predict complications following DBS.
Methods: We retrospectively studied a cohort of DBS patients. The primary outcome was postoperative confusion; secondary outcomes were discharge disposition and all in-hospital complications. For each case, a control matched for age, sex, diagnosis, and DBS target was identified. Linear measurements were made from routine preoperative axial MRIs for both cases and controls.
Results: A total of 40 patients met one or more of the end points. Patients with postoperative confusion had a significantly larger minimum width of the lateral ventricles than controls. Patients discharged to a higher level of care and those with any complications also had significantly greater maximum and minimum ventricular widths than controls.
Conclusions: These results suggest that preoperative measurement of the maximum and minimum width of the lateral ventricles may help predict which patients are at risk for complicated recoveries following DBS.
Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.