Endoscopic corpus callosotomy: an animal study

Abstract

We have previously described a technique for the partial bisection of the corpus callosum in the cadaver in order to increase the minimally invasiveness of this procedure. We now present our experience with this procedure in an animal model. Following a 1.0 cm midline skin incision, cranial trephinations (approximately 0.5 cm) were performed in five adult pigs under general endotracheal anesthesia. A rigid endoscope (AESCULAP, Tuttlingen, Germany) was next introduced and used to transect the approximate anterior two-thirds of the corpus callosum. Following the procedure, brains were observed for gross injury to vascularities or non callosal nervous tissue. No vascular complications were encountered in any of our animal specimens (e.g. superior sagittal sinus, anterior cerebral, frontopolar, or pericallosal arteries). The corpus callosum was easily transected in each specimen. All animals survived the procedure. We believe this technique could provide a less invasive mechanism for patients primarily children, who require corpus callosotomy and will minimize much of the morbidity associated with the traditional methods of sectioning the corpus callosum. Human studies are now necessary to confirm our findings. (J Pediatr Neurol 2003; 1(1): 25-28).