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Seizure control and developmental trajectories after hemispherotomy for refractory epilepsy in childhood and adolescence
Author(s) -
Ramantani Georgia,
Kadish Navah Ester,
Brandt Armin,
Strobl Karl,
Stathi Angeliki,
Wiegand Gert,
SchubertBast Susanne,
Mayer Hans,
Wagner Kathrin,
Korinthenberg Rudolf,
Stephani Ulrich,
Velthoven Vera,
Zentner Josef,
SchulzeBonhage Andreas,
Bast Thomas
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/epi.12140
Subject(s) - etiology , epilepsy , hemimegalencephaly , pediatrics , epilepsy surgery , medicine , refractory (planetary science) , epilepsy in children , epileptic spasms , retrospective cohort study , age of onset , surgery , psychiatry , cortical dysplasia , disease , physics , astrobiology
Summary Purpose To evaluate the seizure control and developmental outcomes after hemispherotomy for refractory epilepsy in childhood and to identify their predictive factors. Methods We retrospectively studied the clinical courses and outcomes of 52 children with refractory epilepsy who underwent hemispherotomy in the E pilepsy C enter F reiburg between 2002 and 2011. Key Findings Mean age at epilepsy onset was 1.8 years (range 0–8 years) and mean age at surgery was 6.7 years (range 6 months–18 years). The underlying etiology was congenital in 22 (42%) children, acquired in 24 (46%), and progressive in 6 (12%). At final follow‐up of 1–9.8 years (mean 3.3), 43 children (83%) were seizure‐free. Seizure outcome was not correlated to etiology, with the exception of hemimegalencephaly that was linked to poor seizure control. Presurgical development was impaired in all but one child. Postsurgical development highly correlated with presurgical development. Patients with acquired or progressive etiology, later epilepsy onset, and subsequent later surgery exhibited higher presurgical developmental status that substantially determined postoperative developmental outcome. Improved postsurgical development was determined by acquired etiology and seizure freedom off antiepileptic drugs. Significance In our study, most of the selected children and adolescents achieved seizure freedom, including those with congenital etiology. Developmental outcomes, however, were superior in patients with acquired etiology and older age at surgery, underscoring that it is never too late to reap the benefits of this procedure in terms of both epilepsy and development.