The safety profile of subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's diseases: A systematic review of perioperative complications and psychological impacts.

Background: Despite its widespread use and acceptance, there is still a significant need for a comprehensive understanding of the safety profile of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's Disease. This study investigates the surgical and psychological complications associated with DBS surgery for movement disorders, aiming to quantify patient risk and promote broader acceptance of the procedure.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. It focused on a substantial population of 3,599 patients from various studies who underwent DBS between 2000 and 2024. A thorough literature search was carried out to identify studies on the safety profile of DBS in Parkinson's Disease (PD) across multiple electronic databases. Two reviewers extracted data and independently assessed the risk of bias, and all authors resolved any discrepancies collectively.

Results: This review identified 17,453 studies, but only 26 were thoroughly reviewed after fulfilling all inclusion criteria. DBS showed both therapeutic benefits and significant risks, with complications including neurological deficits, infections, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms, surgical or device-related issues, motor dysfunction, and mortality.

Conclusion: Overall, the findings support the cognitive safety of DBS, revealing limited adverse effects on cognitive functions. This review confirms therapeutic advantages and significant risks during and after surgery, including intraoperative and long-term adverse events. Additional reviews are required to evaluate the long-term impact of these complications, thereby enhancing patient safety and quality of life.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.