Previous studies provided good evidence that sEEG implantation is a safe and effective procedure; however, complications in asymptomatic patients after explantation may be underreported.

In a systematic review of stereoelectroencephalography complications, thirty-five major complications (including 4 fatalities) were reported among 4,000 patients (0.8%) implanted with 33,000 electrodes ¹⁾.

SEEG has low associated complications, particularly regarding hemorrhage and infection ²⁾.

Serletis et al., published wound infection (0.08%), hemorrhagic complications (0.08%), and a transient neurological deficit (0.04%) in a total of 5 patients (2.5%). One patient (0.5%) ultimately died due to intracerebral hematoma directly ensuing from SEEG electrode placement ³⁾.

In the Cardinale et al., published series the major complication rate was 12 of 500 (2.4%), including 1 death for indirect morbidity. Median entry point localization error was 1.43 mm (interquartile range, 0.91-2.21 mm) with the traditional workflow and 0.78 mm (interquartile range, 0.49-1.08 mm) with the new one (P < 2.2 × 10). Median target point localization errors were 2.69 mm (interquartile range, 1.89-3.67 mm) and 1.77 mm (interquartile range, 1.25-2.51 mm; P < 2.2 × 10), respectively. ⁴⁾.

Guénot et al had no general or neurologic complication occurred during the procedures. Two transient postprocedure side effects, consisting of paresthetic sensations in the mouth and mild apraxia of the hand, were observed ⁵⁾.

In 10 patients that underwent this procedure, there were no derived complications ⁶⁾.

The total complication rate was 4% in One hundred patients that underwent 101 robot-assisted SEEG procedures ⁷⁾.

In the series of De Almeida et al., bilateral exploration of the temporal lobes has a morbidity rate of approximately 1%. A higher risk of hematomas occurs with the implantation of four or more electrodes in the frontal lobes ⁸⁾.