[Stereoelectroencephalography by using O-Arm and Vertek passive articulated arm: Technical note and experience of an epilepsy referral centre].

Objective: To report a novel, accurate, and safe technique for deep brain electrode implantation to register brain electrical activity or SEEG, using frameless stereotaxy, neuronavigation assisted, and intraoperative CT-guided O-Arm and the Vertek articulated passive arm.

Material And Methods: All patients implanted by this technique in Barcelona Hospital Clinic were included. A prospective evaluation was made of the accuracy of the technique, as well as complications, surgical time, length of stay, and short-term outcomes.

Results: The study included 10 patients that underwent this procedure. The mean age was 38 years, and 60% were women. A mean of 6.9 (3-10) electrodes/patient, with a total of 69 electrodes, were implanted. The mean time for implantation was 34.7minutes per electrode. The mean distance between the planned target and the final target was 1.39 millimetres (0.95-1.7). There were no surgically derived complications. The epileptogenic zone was determined in 6 cases (60%). Surgical resection was performed in 5 cases (50%), with thermocoagulation in 3 (30%) cases, and in 2 cases (20%) there was no treatment. At a six-month follow-up of the 8 treated cases, 37.5% were ELAI I, 12.5% ELAI III, 25% ELAI IV, and 25% ELAI V.

Conclusions: The implantation of deep brain electrodes for SEEG by using intraoperative CT O-Arm and the Vertek articulated passive arm is a safe and effective technique with adequate accuracy.