ID 361 – Remission of ESES after functional hemispherotomy is associated with significant language development

Abstract

To study the effect of functional hemispherotomy on electrical status epilepticus during slow wave sleep (ESES) and language development. The source-population comprised prospectively collected data from patients with a history of at least 2 years after functional hemispherotomy. Study inclusion criteria were ascertained diagnosis of ESES prior to surgery and complete developmental follow-up data. A control group without ESES was drawn from the source population. Language Quotients (LQ) prior to surgery and at last follow-up were calculated. Hypotheses were: (1) Children with ESES have lower preoperative LQs than children without ESES; (2) Remission of ESES after surgery is associated with significant ‘catch up’ of the LQs. Nonparametric Wilcoxon and Chi-square tests were applied. 11 cases (five female) and 21 controls (eleven female) were included. Prior to surgery, children with ESES had significantly lower LQs compared with their controls (p = 0.015). The median follow-up after surgery was 6.0 years (±2.2; range 2–9 years). ESES remitted immediately after surgery in 90.9% of the patients. A significant increase in LQ was noticed in these children (p = 0.038). The results were independent of the side of surgery. Functional hemispherotomy may have beneficial effects on ESES and further language development.