• Arjun S Chandran, Nova B Thani, Omar K Bangash, and LindChristopher R PCRPDepartment of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia..
• Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: a.chandran@hotmail.com.
• World Neurosurg. 2021 Jul 1; 151: e1016-e1023.

ObjectiveThe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-directed implantable guide tube technique allows for direct targeting of deep brain structures without microelectrode recording or intraoperative clinical assessment. This study describes a 10-year institutional experience of this technique including nuances that enable performance of surgery using readily available equipment.MethodsEighty-seven patients underwent deep brain stimulation surgery using the guide tube technique for Parkinson disease (n = 59), essential tremor (n = 16), and dystonia (n = 12). Preoperative and intraoperative MRI was analyzed to measure lead accuracy, volume of pneumocephalus, and the ability to safely plan a trajectory for multiple electrode contacts.ResultsMean target error was measured to be 0.7 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6-0.8 mm) in the anteroposterior plane, 0.6 mm (95% CI 0.5-0.7 mm) in the mediolateral plane, and 0.8 mm (95% CI 0.7-0.9 mm) in the superoinferior plane. Net deviation (Euclidean error) from the planned target was 1.3 mm (95% CI 1.2-1.4 mm). Mean intracranial air volume per lead was 0.2 mL (95% CI 0.1-0.4 mL). In total, 52 patients had no intracranial air on postoperative imaging. In all patients, a safe trajectory could be planned to target for multiple electrode contacts without violating critical neural structures, the lateral ventricle, sulci, or cerebral blood vessels.ConclusionsThe MRI-directed implantable guide tube technique is a highly accurate, low-cost, reliable method for introducing deep brain electrodes. This technique reduces brain shift secondary to pneumocephalus and allows for whole trajectory planning of multiple electrode contacts.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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