Abstracts

To determine frequency of intracranial recording infections. We reviewed the rates of treated infections following the use of intracranial electrodes for epilepsy surgery resection at St Luke[apos]s Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Review of follow-up visits and hospital charts were used as source documents. With explantation of grid electrodes, sentinel cultures were done in the subglial space. Antibiotics were used if cultures are positive. From 2/2002 to 5/2004 a total of 83 epilepsy surgery resections were undertaken and 75 resections performed. Eight patients were not candidates due to functional capacities in the focus or multi-focal seizure onsets. Intracranial subdural strip and/or grid electrodes were used in 26 patients. There were no positive sentinel cultures obtained and no anitbiotics used for cranial infections. Three reoperations for suspicious fluid on CT Scan failed to document infection. Intracranial electrode use is not associated with a higher post-operative infection in our institution. Sentinel cultures will continue to be used.