title: "Short term surgical complications after subthalamic deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease: does old age matter?".
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients aged 65 years and older are not traditionally considered optimal candidates for subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS), mainly for their presumed increased incidence of surgical complications. The aim of this study was to assess STN-DBS surgery safety in relation to age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 107 consecutive patients undergoing bilateral STN-DBS at our institution between 2002 and 2014 were retrospectively stratified according to age in two groups (Young group < 65 years old; Elderly group ≥ 65 years old;). Rate of short-term surgical complications (within 90 days) was reviewed and compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-operative baseline data were comparable between the two groups. The 90-days post-operative mortality rate was 0%. Overall incidence of complications related to surgery was 6,54%. In the Elderly group we observed 3 post-operative intra-cerebral haematomas (7,89%), 1 requiring urgent surgical evacuation. In the Young group we observed 2 post-operative asymptomatic intra-cerebral haematomas (2,89%) and 2 wound infections (2,89%), 1 requiring system removal. No others surgical complications were noticed in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronological age ≥ 65 years old should not be considered alone as exclusion criteria to STN-DBS surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. vincenzo.levi@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. giorgio.carrabba@policlinico.mi.it.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carrabba
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. paolo.rampini@policlinico.mi.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rampini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. marco.locatelli@policlinico.mi.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Locatelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors