Objective To investigate the methods and safety of subdural electrodes implantation in intractable epilepsy patients for pre-surgical assessment. Methods The clinical data of 65 patients who underwent implantation surgery of subdural electrodes with or without depth electrodes at functional neurosurgery in Xiangya Hospital from April 2014 to June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. We summarized the experience of implantation and analyzed complications. Results All 65 patients underwent craniotomy to implant subdural electrodes, of which 26 implanted additional depth electrodes. The mean duration of implantation was 10.8 days(2~28days). Postoperative intracranial hematoma occurred in 8 cases, including 4 cases of epidural hematoma, 4 of subdural hematoma. 3 patients suffered of epidural hematoma needed additional surgery to removal of hematoma. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 8 cases, and postoperative intracranial infection in 3 cases, cerebral edema in 1 cases, electrode prolapse in 1 case. No patient failed monitoring due to the complications and no patient suffered long-term neurological deficit due to the implantation. Conclusions Intracranial subdural electrodes with or without depths electrodes implantation and long-term monitoring is a relatively safe and useful invasive preoperative assessment method. Postoperative intracranial hematoma and infection are the main complications and appropriate placement method and postoperative management will help to avoid the complications.