Multilobar Resections Research Articles

Stereoelectroencephalography and surgical treatment of TSC-associated epilepsy in children: preliminary results

Introduction. The most prevalent symptom of central nervous system involvement in tuberous sclerosis complex is epilepsy, predominantly of a drug-resistant nature. In such cases, surgical treatment methods become a focal point for consideration. Purpose of the study: to analyze the outcomes of surgical treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy in children with tuberous sclerosis following stereoelectroencephalography. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of surgical outcomes for epilepsy in children with tuberous sclerosis after stereo-EEG was conducted. From April 2017 to December 2021, 23 patients underwent prolonged stereo-EEG monitoring. Based on the results of invasive EEG, resective surgery was performed on 14 patients. Primary resection of the epileptogenic zone was carried out in 11 cases (79 %), and repeated resection was performed in 3 cases (21 %). Tuberectomy was conducted in three cases, tuberectomy plus — in six patients, lobectomy — in three patients, multilobar resection — in three cases, and one patient had an extension of the previous resection area with cor ticoectomy. Results. In the follow-up period ranging from 12 to 78 months, ILAE I outcome was observed in 64 % of cases, ILAE IV in 29 % of children, and ILAE V in 7 % of cases. Antiepileptic therapy was discontinued in one patient, a decrease in drug load was noted in four patients, and an increase in drug load was obser ved in one patient. Conclusion. Surgical treatment of TSC-associated epilepsy in children requires a comprehensive pre-surgical examination in specialized centers, incorporating the invasive electroencephalography method. Given the multifocal nature of epilepsy, along with the combination of generalized and focal seizures, resective surgeryis worth considering as palliative treatment in some cases.

A multidisciplinary approach to posterior quadrant disconnective epilepsy surgery in pediatric patients

PurposeExtensive lesions of the posterior quadrant are a relevant cause of pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy. Early surgery is the best treatment in these cases, but conventional multilobar resections carry a significant risk in pediatric patients. Despite temporo-parieto-occipital (TPO) disconnection being the preferable technique due to the preservation of motor function, studies reporting long-term longitudinal outcomes are still limited. This study aims to analyze seizures and developmental outcomes after TPO disconnection. MethodsA prospective analysis was carried out on 12 children who underwent TPO disconnection. ResultsTPO disconnection was performed in 12 pediatric patients aged between 14 months and 18 years (median 6.29 years). The average age of seizure onset was 0.97 ± 1.22 years. Causes of TPO included perinatal ischemia in 4 patients and malformation of cortical development (MCD) in 8 patients. The presenting seizure types were focal motor impaired awareness seizures in 7 children and generalized in 5. The affected hemisphere was the right in 9 patients and the left in 3. In half of the patients, the temporal approach was performed through T1, and in the other 50%, it was performed through T2. After neuropsychological examination, 2 children improved, 7 remained stable, 2 patients presented stagnation and 1 declined. Regarding postoperative complications, nonresorptive hydrocephalus and an asymptomatic caudate nucleus infarct were observed. After a median follow-up of 2 years, 9 patients were in Engel’s Class I seizure outcome. ConclusionTPO disconnection is a safe and effective motor-sparing epilepsy surgery for children with refractory seizures located in the posterior quadrant that prevents further cognitive deterioration.

EEG patterns in Refractory Epilepsy with Focal Cortical Dysplasia and predictors of outcome after surgery (P10-1.003)

<h3>Objective:</h3> To characterize the EEG patterns of type-1 and type-2 FCD with refractory epilepsy, correlate with clinic-radiological features and determine predictors of surgical outcome. <h3>Background:</h3> Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is the most common malformation of cortical development (MCD) causing drug refractory epilepsy(DRE) requiring surgical evaluation. Precise characterisation of the FCD and associated epileptogenic zone (EZ) with multimodal evaluation is crucial for surgical success <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> Retrospective analysis data of 188 consecutive patients with FCD operated for DRE and at least two years post-surgery follow-up was analyzed. The clinical features, MRI and interictal and ictal EEG patterns were studied for all patients <h3>Results:</h3> Average age of patients was 17.31±11.26 (2 – 64) years with 48.9% women. Interictal EEG showed regional pattern in 66% of FCD2 patients (p=0.04), while generalised interictal discharges were commonly associated with persistent seizures after surgery (p=0.016). Ictal beta rhythm was significantly associated with FCD2 (p=0.05). Generalised ictal onset was significantly seen in patients with persistent seizures after surgery (p=0.48). MRI showed clear cut FCD in 72.3% patients. At last follow-up 66.0% were seizure free. Patients with FCD type-1 had earlier age at onset (p=0.029) of epilepsy and had multiple seizure patterns (0.034). Patients with FCD type-2 commonly reported aura (p=0.019) and had clear-cut lesion on MRI (p=0.021) and high seizure freedom(p=0.004). Patients with FCD type-1 more often were detected on PET-MRI, underwent multilobar resections and had higher rate of acute postoperative seizures, while complete resection was more frequent in type-2 FCD <h3>Conclusions:</h3> FCD type-1 had early onset of seizures with multiple seizure semiologies, subtle MRI, multi-lobar resection and poor surgical outcome. FCD2 had clear-cut MRI lesion, regional inter-ictal discharges, ictal beta at onset with complete resection at surgery hence favorable post-surgical outcome <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Patil has nothing to disclose. Sita Jayalakshmi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vooturi has nothing to disclose.

197 A Multidisciplinary Approach to Posterior Quadrant Disconnective Epilepsy Surgery in Pediatric Patients

INTRODUCTION: Extensive lesions of the posterior quadrant are a relevant cause of pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy. Early surgery is the best treatment in these cases but conventional multilobar resections carry a significant risk in pediatric patients. Despite temporo-parieto-occipital (TPO) disconnection being the preferable technique due to the preservation of motor function, studies reporting long-term longitudinal outcomes are still limited. METHODS: A prospective analysis was carried out on 12 children who underwent TPO disconnection. (Image 1 and 2) RESULTS: TPO disconnection was performed in 12 pediatric patients aged between 14 months and 18 years (median 6.29 years). The average age of seizure onset was 0.97±1.22 years. Causes of TPO included perinatal ischemia in 4 and malformation of cortical development (MCD) in 8. The presenting seizure types were focal motor impaired awareness seizures in 7 children and generalized in 5. The affected hemisphere was the right one in 9 patients and the left in 3. In half of the patients the temporal approach was performed through T1 and in the other 50% through T2. After neuropsychological examination, 2 children improved, 7 remained stable, 2 patients presented stagnation and 1 declined. Regarding postoperative complications, a non-resorptive hydrocephalus and an asymptomatic caudate nucleus infarct were observed. After a median follow-up of 2 years, 9 patients were in Engel’s Class I seizure outcome. CONCLUSIONS: TPO disconnection is a safe and effective motor-sparing epilepsy surgery for children with refractory seizures located in the posterior quadrant, which prevents further cognitive deterioration.

Preoperative risk factors predict perioperative allogenic blood transfusion in patients undergoing primary lung cancer resections: a retrospective cohort study from a high-volume thoracic surgery center

BackgroundOur study aimed to identify preoperative predictors for perioperative allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) in patients undergoing major lung cancer resections in order to improve the perioperative management of patients at risk for ABT.MethodsPatients admitted between 2014 and 2016 in a high-volume thoracic surgery clinic were retrospectively evaluated in a cohort study based on a control group without ABT and the ABT group requiring packed red blood cell units within 15 days postoperatively until discharge. The association of ABT with clinically established parameters (sex, preoperative anemia, liver and coagulation function, blood groups, multilobar resections) was analyzed by contingency tables, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and logistic regression analysis, taking into account potential covariates.Results60 out of 529 patients (11.3%) required ABT. N1 and non-T1 tumors, thoracotomy approach, multilobar resections, thoracic wall resections and Rhesus negativity were more frequent in the ABT group. In multivariable analyses, female sex, preoperative anemia, multilobar resections, as well as serum alanine-aminotransferase levels, thrombocyte counts and Rhesus negativity were identified as independent predictors of ABT, being associated with OR (95% Confidence interval, p-value) of 2.44 (1.23–4.88, p = 0.0112), 18.16 (8.73–37.78, p < 0.0001), 5.79 (2.50–13.38, p < 0.0001), 3.98 (1.73–9.16, p = 0.0012), 2.04 (1.04–4.02, p = 0.0390) and 2.84 (1.23–6.59, p = 0.0150), respectively.ConclusionsIn patients undergoing major lung cancer resections, multiple independent risk factors for perioperative ABT apart from preoperative anemia and multilobar resections were identified. Assessment of these predictors might help to identify high risk patients preoperatively and to improve the strategies that reduce perioperative ABT.

Beyond seizure freedom: Dissecting long-term seizure control after surgical resection for drug-resistant epilepsy.

This study was undertaken to better understand the long-term palliative and disease-modifying effects of surgical resection beyond seizure freedom, including frequency reduction and both late recurrence and remission, in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. This retrospective database-driven cohort study included all patients with >9 years of follow-up at a single high-volume epilepsy center. We included patients who underwent lobectomy, multilobar resection, or lesionectomies for drug-resistant epilepsy; we excluded patients who underwent hemispherectomies. Our main outcomes were (1) reduction in frequency of disabling seizures (at 6months, each year up to 9 years postoperatively, and at last follow-up), (2) achievement of seizure remission (>6months, >1year, and longest duration), and (3) seizure freedom at last follow-up. We included 251 patients; 234 (93.2%) achieved 6months and 232 (92.4%) experienced 1year of seizure freedom. Of these, the average period of seizure freedom was 10.3 years. A total of 182 (72.5%) patients were seizure-free at last follow-up (defined as >1year without seizures), with a median 11.9 years since remission. For patients not completely seizure-free, the mean seizure frequency reduction at each time point was 76.2%, and ranged from 66.6% to 85.0%. Patients decreased their number of antiseizure medications on average by .58, and 53 (21.2%) patients were on no antiseizure medication at last follow-up. Nearly half (47.1%) of those seizure-free at last follow-up were not seizure-free immediately postoperatively. Patients who continue to have seizures after resection often have considerable reductions in seizure frequency, and many are able to achieve seizure freedom in a delayed manner.

Outcomes of Adjunctive Surgery in Patients With Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The burden of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is increasing worldwide. Amidst the poor treatment success of antibiotic therapy, adjunctive surgery is gaining attention; however, discrepancies in reported outcomes exist. What are the treatment outcomes and complications of patients with NTM-PD undergoing adjunctive surgery? The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for eligible studies before January 2022. Studies reporting the outcomes of adjunctive surgery in adult patients who satisfied the diagnostic criteria for NTM-PD were included. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines. Data were extracted by two independent observers. Estimates of proportion were pooled using a random-effects model. Sputum mycobacterial culture negative conversion, recurrence, complications, and in-hospital mortality after surgery were primary outcomes that had been set before data collection began. Heterogeneity was evaluated by using the I2 statistic, and publication bias was assessed by using funnel plots and the Egger test. Fifteen of the 2,739 screened studies, with 1,071 patients, were assessed. The weighted proportion of postoperative sputum culture negative conversion was 93%(95%CI, 87%-97%), and recurrence was 9%(95%CI, 6%-14%) for a median follow-up of 34months. The proportion of patients who experienced postoperative complications was 17%(95%CI, 13%-23%), and in-hospital mortality was 0%(95%CI, 0%-2%). Studies that performed multilobar lung resection in > 30%of the study population showed comparable rates of complications with studies that did not. Adjunctive surgery is an effective therapeutic option with acceptable rates of complications for selected patients with NTM-PD. PROSPERO; No.: CRD42022310663; URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy followed by surgery with curative intent in 35 patients with advanced NSCLC: the retrospective experiences of a multidisciplinary team.

BackgroundIn recent years, neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has been used to treat locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, no data are available to guide the selection of patients suitable for radical resection. In this paper, we report a clinical mode based on a multidisciplinary team (MDT).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated in our center between 26 December, 2019 and 1 October, 2021. These cases received an MDT assessment first. Eligible patients then received chemotherapy combined with personalized neoadjuvant immunotherapy. Adverse events were recorded. Chest computed tomography (CT) was performed every other cycle for tumor assessment. Radical resection was subsequently performed for potentially resectable tumors. Intraoperative conditions and surgical complications were recorded. The resected specimens were evaluated to determine the response to neoadjuvant therapy.ResultsThe MDT team selected a total of 35 patients (squamous cell carcinoma: n=26, adenocarcinoma: n=8, adenosquamous carcinoma: n=1) for radical resection following neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) findings, 1 patient had complete remission, 27 had partial remission, 6 had progressive disease, and 1 had stable disease. All participants underwent radical resection, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery [VATS; 32 (91.4%)], sleeve resection [7 (20.0%)], and multilobar resection [7 (20.0%)]. A total of 17 patients (48.6%) achieved complete pathological remission, and 10 (28.6%) achieved major pathological remission. After surgery, the pathological grade was reduced in 33 patients (94.2%); the RECIST findings were unrelated to postoperative pathological remission (P=0.15).ConclusionsThe MDT mode helps to select suitable patients for radical resection and results in satisfactory pathological remission.

Clinical profile and outcomes of epilepsy surgery in children from a tertiary epilepsy care center in India

The present study aims to describe epilepsy surgery outcomes in the pediatric population from a tertiary center in India. Children less than 18 years who underwent epilepsy surgery between June 2015 and December 2019 for whom at least a 1-year follow-up was available, were retrospectively evaluated for clinical presentation, radiology, surgical intervention, and seizure outcomes. Out of a total of 355 epilepsy surgeries performed, 242 were in the pediatric group (140 males, 80 females). The mean age at surgery was 9.4 years±4.8 years (range 4 months-18 years). The mean duration of epilepsy was 5.64 years±3.91 (range 2 months-17 years). 126 patients experienced daily seizures, 45 weekly and 39 reported monthly seizures. Six had refractory status epilepticus. All the patients were on multiple anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs): the mean number of AEDs was 3.27±0.98 (range 2-7 AEDs). Focal seizure was the most common seizure type seen in 72.27% of children (159/220). The most frequent etiology was focal cortical dysplasia (70), followed by bilateral parieto-temporo-occipital gliosis (48). All the patients underwent standard pre-surgical evaluation. Eleven patients needed stage 2 evaluation (intracranial EEG). The different surgeries performed were electrocorticography (ECOG) and navigation-guided resection (65), anterior temporal lobectomy and hippocampectomy (ATLAH) (48), functional hemispherotomy (39), callosotomy (28), disconnection surgeries (16), and multilobar resection (12). Twelve patients underwent more than one surgery. The patients were followed up between a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 66 months (median 32 months; IQR 20 months). Engel class 1 outcome was observed in 81.38% in definitive surgeries. Outcomes of temporal lobe (TL) surgeries (92.3%) were better compared to hemispheric (87.17%) and extratemporal lobe (ETL) surgeries (75.32%). We encountered unexpected transient motor deficits in 2 patients and culture-proven meningitis in 8 patients. Post-surgery drug freedom (P-value 0.003) was the most important factor for better developmental, cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Epilepsy surgeries are safe and seizure outcomes are excellent in properly selected cases with thorough presurgical evaluation. Early referral to a tertiary epilepsy center is needed for timely intervention.

Surgical outcome of temporal plus epilepsy is improved by multilobar resection.

Temporal plus epilepsy (TPE) represents a rare type of epilepsy characterized by a complex epileptogenic zone including the temporal lobe and the close neighboring structures. We investigated whether the complete resection of temporal plus epileptogenic zone as defined through stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) might improve seizure outcome in 38 patients with TPE. Inclusion criteria were as follows: epilepsy surgery performed between January 1990 and December 2001, SEEG defining a temporal plus epileptogenic zone, unilobar temporal operations ("temporal lobe epilepsy [TLE] surgery") or multilobar interventions including the temporal lobe ("TPE surgery"), magnetic resonance imaging either normal or showing signs of hippocampal sclerosis, and postoperative follow-up of at least 12months. For each assessment of postoperative seizure outcome, at 1, 2, 5, and 10years, we carried out descriptive analysis and classical tests of hypothesis, namely, Pearson χ2 test or Fisher exact test of independence on tables of frequency for each categorical variable of interest and Student t-test for each continuous variable of interest, when appropriate. Twenty-one patients underwent TPE surgery and 17 underwent TLE surgery with a follow-up of 12.4±8.16years. In the multivariate models, there was a significant effect of the time from surgery on Engel Class IA versus IB-IV outcome, with a steadily worsening trend from 5-year follow-up onward. TPE surgery was associated with better results than TLE surgery. This study suggests that surgical outcome in patients with TPE can be improved by a tailored, multilobar resection and confirms that SEEG is mandatory when a TPE is suspected.

Multilobar unilateral hypoplasia with emphasis on the posterior quadrant and severe epilepsy in children with FCD ILAE Type 1A.

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) Type 1 and its three subtypes have yet not been fully characterized at the clinical, anatomopathological, and molecular level (International League Against Epilepsy [ILAE] FCD classification from 2011). We aimed to describe the clinical phenotype of patients with histopathologically confirmed FCD1A obtained from a single epilepsy center between 2002 and 2016. Medical records were retrieved from the hospital's archive. Results from electroencephalography (EEG) video recordings, neuroimaging, and histopathology were reevaluated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) post-processing was retrospectively performed in nine patients. DNA methylation studies were carried out from archival surgical brain tissue in 11 patients. Nineteen children with a histopathological diagnosis of FCD1A were included. The average onset of epilepsy was 0.9years (range 0.2-10years). All children had severe cognitive impairment and one third had mild motor deficits, yet fine finger movements were preserved in all patients. All patients had daily seizures, being drug resistant from disease onset. Interictal electroencephalography revealed bilateral multi-regional epileptiform discharges. Interictal status epilepticus was observed in 8 and countless subclinical seizures in 11 patients. Regional continuous irregular slow waves were of higher lateralizing and localizing yield than spikes. Posterior background rhythms were normal in 16 of 19 children. Neuroimaging showed unilateral multilobar hypoplasia and increased T2-FLAIR signals of the white matter in 18 of 19 patients. All children underwent tailored multilobar resections, with seizure freedom achieved in 47% (Engel class I). There was no case with frontal involvement without involvement of the posterior quadrant by MRI and histopathology. DNA methylation profiling distinguished FCD1A samples from all other epilepsy specimens and controls. We identified a cohort of young children with drug resistance from seizure onset, bad EEG with posterior emphasis, lack of any focal neurological deficits but severe cognitive impairment, subtle hypoplasia of the epileptogenic area on MRI, and histopathologically defined and molecularly confirmed by DNA methylation analysis as FCD ILAE Type 1A.

Surgical candidates in children with epileptic spasms can be selected without invasive monitoring: A report of 70 cases

ObjectivePrior surgical series in children with drug-resistant epileptic spasms have reported use of intracranial EEG monitoring in up to two-third of patients. We report outcome after epilepsy surgery for drug-resistant epileptic spasms in a cohort of children without the use of intracranial EEG monitoring in any of the patients. MethodsMedical records of all consecutive children aged 5 years or under who had epilepsy surgery for epileptic spasms at Cleveland Clinic between 2000 and 2018 were reviewed. Post-operative seizure outcome and predictors of prognosis of seizure outcome were analyzed. ResultsSeventy children with active epileptic spasms underwent surgical resections during the study period. Mean age at seizure onset was 6.8 (+9.31) months and median age at surgery was 18.5 months. An epileptogenic lesion was identified on brain MRI in all patients; 17 (24%) had bilateral abnormalities. Etiologies included malformations of cortical development (58%), perinatal infarct/encephalomalacia (39%), and tumor (3%). None of the patients had intracranial EEG. Surgical procedures included hemispherectomy (44%), lobectomy/ lesionectomy (33%), and multilobar resections (23%). Twelve children needed repeat surgery; six (50%) became seizure free after the second surgery. At six months follow-up, 73% (51/70) were seizure-free since surgery. At a mean follow-up of 4.7 years, 60% (42/70) had Engel 1 outcome. In those with seizure recurrence, 17 (60%) reported improvement. Shorter epilepsy duration (p = 0.05) and lobar or sub-lobar epileptogenic lesions (p = 0.02) predicted favorable seizure outcome at 6 months after surgery. For long term outcome, patients with bilateral abnormalities on MRI (p = 0.001), and multilobar extent on MRI (p = 0.02) were at higher risk for recurrence. SignificanceChildren with drug-resistant epileptic spasms secondary to an epileptogenic lesion detected on MRI could be selected for epilepsy surgery without undergoing intracranial EEG monitoring. A surgical selection paradigm without intracranial monitoring may allow early surgery without the risks of invasive monitoring.

Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery: Indications and Evaluation.

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition in children. It is usually amenable to drug therapy. However, nearly one-third of patients may be refractory to antiseizure drugs. Poor compliance and nonepileptic events should be ruled out as possible causes of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). After failing adequate trials of two appropriate antiseizure drugs, patients with focal DRE or poorly classifiable epilepsy or epileptic encephalopathy with focal electro-clinical features should be worked up for surgical candidacy. A randomized controlled trial provided a class I evidence for epilepsy surgery in pediatric DRE. Pre-surgical screening workup typically includes a high-resolution epilepsy protocol brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a high-quality in-patient video electroencephalography evaluation. Advanced investigations such as positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and magnetoencephalography (MEG) may be required in selected cases especially when brain MRI is normal, and further evidence for anatomo-electro-clinical concordance is necessary to refine candidacy for surgery and surgical strategy. Some children may also need functional MRI to map eloquent regions of interest such as motor, sensory, and language functions to avoid unacceptable neurological deficits after surgery. Selected children may need invasive long-term electroencephalographic monitoring using stereotactically implanted intracranial depth electrodes or subdural grids. Surgical options include resective surgeries (lesionectomy, lobectomy, multilobar resections) and disconnective surgeries (corpus callosotomy, etc.) with the potential to obtain seizure freedom. Other surgical procedures, typically considered to be palliative are neuromodulation [deep brain stimulation (DBS), vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), and responsive neural stimulation (RNS)]. DBS and RNS are currently not approved in children. Pediatric DRE should be evaluated early considering the risk of epileptic encephalopathy and negative impact on cognition.

Surgery for drug-resistant tuberous sclerosis complex-associated epilepsy: who, when, and what.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multisystem genetic disorder associated with refractory early-onset epilepsy. Current evidence supports surgery as the intervention most likely to achieve long-term seizure freedom, but no specific guidelines are available on TSC pre-surgical workup. This critical review assesses which TSC patients are suitable for surgical treatment, when pre-surgical evaluation should start, and what degree of surgical resection is optimal for postsurgical outcome. We searched for publications from 2000 to 2020 in Pubmed and Embase using the terms "tuberous sclerosis," "epilepsy," and "epilepsy surgery". To evaluate postsurgical seizure outcome, we selected only studies with at least one year of follow-up. Overall, we collected data on 1,026 patients from 34 studies. Age at surgery ranged from one month to 54 years. Mean age at surgery was 8.41 years. Of the diagnostic non-invasive pre-surgical tools, MRI and video-EEG were considered most appropriate. Promising data for epileptogenic tuber detection is provided from invasive SEEG studies. Data on surgery and related outcome were available for 769 patients. Seizure freedom was seen in 64.4% of patients who underwent tuberectomy, 68.9% treated with lobectomy and 65.1% with multilobar resection. The most effective surgical approach was lobectomy, even though more recently tuberectomy associated with the resection of the perituberal area seems to be the best approach to reach seizure freedom. Published postsurgical seizure freedom rates in patients with TSC were between 65% and 75%, but reduced to 48%-57% over longer follow-up periods. Early surgery might positively affect neurodevelopmental trajectory in some patients, even though data on cognitive outcome are still to be confirmed with longitudinal studies. Considering the strong correlation between epilepsy duration and neurocognitive outcome, all patients with TSC ought to be referred early to a dedicated epilepsy centre for individually tailored pre-surgical evaluation by a multi-disciplinary epilepsy surgery team.

Multilobar Epilepsy Surgery in Childhood and Adolescence: Predictors of Long-Term Seizure Freedom.

Although multilobar resections correspond to one-fifth of pediatric epilepsy surgery, there are little data on long-term seizure control. To investigate the long-term seizure outcomes of children and adolescents undergoing multilobar epilepsy surgery and identify their predictors. In this retrospective study, we considered 69 consecutive patients that underwent multilobar epilepsy surgery at the age of 10.0± 5.0 yr (mean±SD). The magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion in all but 2 cases. Resections were temporo-parieto(-occipital) in 30%, temporo-occipital in 41%, parieto-occipital in 16%, and fronto-(temporo)-parietal in 13% cases. Etiologies were determined as focal cortical dysplasia in 67%, perinatal or postnatal ischemic lesions in 23%, and benign tumors in 10% of cases. At last follow-up of median 9 yr (range 2.8-14.8), 48% patients were seizure free; 33% were off antiepileptic drugs. 10% of patients, all with dysplastic etiology, required reoperations: 4 of 7 achieved seizure freedom. Seizure recurrence occurred mostly (80%) within the first 6 mo. Among presurgical variables, only an epileptogenic zone far from eloquent cortex independently correlated with significantly higher rates of seizure arrest in multivariate analysis. Among postsurgical variables, the absence of residual lesion and of acute postsurgical seizures was independently associated with significantly higher rates of seizure freedom. Our study demonstrates that multilobar epilepsy surgery is effective regarding long-term seizure freedom and antiepileptic drug withdrawal in selected pediatric candidates. Epileptogenic zones-and lesions-localized distant from eloquent cortex and, thus, fully resectable predispose for seizure control. Acute postsurgical seizures are critical markers of seizure recurrence that should lead to prompt reevaluation.

Multifocal resection in therapy of pediatric progredient epilepsy

Objective. To analyze the long-term results after surgical treatment of multifocal cortical epilepsy in children and determine prognostic factors. The use of multilobar resections in the surgical treatment of pediatric multi-focal epilepsy remains an pressing problem of current neurology and neurosurgery. Materials and methods . A retrospective analysis of the multifocal resections data in 47 children with drug-resistant single-hemispheric multifocal epilepsy was performed by monitoring patients between age of 8 months up to 17 years old, who were operated from 1994 to 2014, additionally examined for prognostic factors affecting short- and long-term treatment outcomes after surgery. Results. According to the MRI data, structural changes in the brain were found in 63.8% subjects, whereas in 36.2% cases no pathology was detected. The following types of surgical interventions were performed: fronto-temporal resection - 44.68% cases; temporal resection combined with subpial removal of the frontal and parietal cortex in 21.28% patients; resection of the temporal lobe and cortical foci of the parietal lobe - 19.15%; removal of the temporal, parietal and occipital lobes - 2 cases; resection of the temporal and occipital - 2 cases; resection of the temporal lobe in combination with multifocal resection of the cortical epileptic foci of the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes - 1 cases; fronto-central-parietal combined with multiple subpial transection of the cortex - 1 case, fronto-parieto-occipital - 1 case. Immediately in postoperative period and up to 12 months post-surgery, seizures disappeared in 42.9% cases, whereas in long-term period results remained stable with Engel I outcome in 41.7% after 3 years, 41.2% - after 5 years and 40.6% - after 10 years post-surgery. Conclusion: Multilobar resections performed in multifocal epilepsy allow to provide a favorable result in the short-term and long-term period with fully abrogated seizures in 48% and 41% cases, respectively. Positive prognostic factors were found to be duration of epilepsy less than 7 years, onset of the disease at school age, lack of generalized seizures and epileptic status in history, as well as the vastness of surgery.

Examining the Utility of Resective Epilepsy Surgery in Children With Electrical Status Epilepticus in Sleep: Long Term Clinical and Electrophysiological Outcomes.

Background: Electrical Status Epilepticus in Sleep (ESES) is an epileptic encephalopathy syndrome characterized by infrequent clinical seizures and prominent interictal burden during slow wave sleep associated with cognitive deficits and behavioral dysfunction. Medical treatment with anti-epileptic drugs is often unsuccessful. Resective surgery may be a valuable option in carefully selected patients. This case series aims to describe the indications, long term results and utility of resective surgery for ESES.Methods: Information on 14 patients who underwent surgery for epilepsy and ESES at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin between 2007 and 2017 is included. Clinical, electrographic and neuropsychological features and outcomes are described in detail.Results: The most common pathology was encephalomalacia due to perinatal middle cerebral artery stoke (5/14). Twelve patients had imaging findings of perinatal pathologies; however, two patients had normal magnetic resonance imaging. Surgery was performed to control refractory epilepsy in eight patients. Six patients had no clinical seizures for 1–6 years prior to surgery, one of which had no known clinical seizures at all. All showed cognitive declines (6/14) or impairment (8/14) on neuropsychological assessments, and surgery was suggested to minimize further cognitive declines. The most common surgical procedure was hemispherotomy (10/14). Temporo-parieto-occipital disconnection, frontal lobectomy, parieto-occipital resection, and limited corticectomy were also used, with good outcomes for the first three procedures. Clinical follow up mean was 4.4 years and 12 patients had excellent seizure outcome. Electroencephalography (EEG) follow up mean was 3 years and ESES resolved in 12/14 patients. All patients completed post-surgical neuropsychological evaluation with mean follow-up of 17.46 months.Conclusions: Resective surgery is an effective treatment for selected cases of ESES, producing long term seizure freedom, resolution of ESES and stabilization of cognitive and behavioral functioning in most patients. Our case series is the largest single center cohort description addressing resective surgery for ESES. Outcomes in this sample suggest that good long-term seizure, EEG and cognitive/behavioral outcomes can be achieved in patients with normal brain imaging and in limited lobar or multi-lobar resections. Moreover, patients with ESES and very infrequent clinical seizures can benefit from surgery with stabilization of cognitive and behavioral functioning.

Posterior Quadrant Disconnection for Sub-Hemispheric Drug Refractory Epilepsy

The posterior quadratic epilepsy (PQE) is a form of a multilobar epilepsy, involving the temporal-parietal and occipital lobes. Basically, epilepsies with localized networks to the posterior temporal, posterior parietal, and occipital lobes can benefit from this type of surgery. Gliosis due to perinatal insult and cortical dysplasis and angiomas in Sturge Weber syndrome involving the PQ have often been cited in the literature as the etiology for PQE. However, before considering surgery, it is important to localize the epileptogenic focus through a complete pre operative work up involving; EEG (Electro-Encephalo-Graphy), video EEG, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magneto encephalography (MEG). Historically, these pathologies were dealt with multi-lobar resections, which were associated with high morbidity and mortality, owing to blood loss, especially in young children, hydrocephalus, and hemosiderosis. Based on the theory of networks involved in epileptogenesis, the concept of disconnection in epilepsy surgery was introduced. Delalande and colleagues, described the technique of hemispheric disconnection (functional hemispherectomy) for pathologies like: hemimegalencephaly, rasmussens encephalitis involving the entire hemisphere. The technique has evolved with time, moving towards minimally invasive endoscopic vertical hemispherotomy, described by Chandra and colleagues.[1],[2] The posterior quadrant disconnection (PQD) evolved as a tailored disconnection on similar lines as hemispherotomy, for managing refractory epilepsy arising from the posterior quadrant.[3] The technique and principles involved in the PQD surgery are similar to the those of peri-insular hemispherotomy and has been described in the literature by few authors.[3],[4],[5],[6] The technique of performing PQD will be described here in a step-wise fashion with illustrations supplemented by a surgical video.

From Resection to Disconnection for Seizure Control in Pediatric Epilepsy Children.

Epilepsy surgery revealed dramatically improved seizure outcomes over medical therapy in drug-resistant epilepsy patients. Children with epilepsy, however, have multiple epileptic focuses which require multilobar resection for better seizure outcome. Multilobar resection has not only the several severe surgical complications, such as hydrocephalus and shunt-related craniosynostosis, due to intracranial volume reduction. Isolation method (disconnection surgery) was progressively studied over epileptic focus removal (resective surgery) for seizure control. This concept was first introduced for functional hemispherotomy, and its primary principle is to preserve the vital vascularized brain that is functionally disconnected from the contralateral healthy brain. Currently in most epilepsy centers, the predominant disconnection surgical methods, including functional hemispherotomy, are continually being refined and are showing excellent results. They allow the functional isolation of the hemisphere or multi-lobe, affected by severe epilepsy. This review describes recent findings concerning the indication, surgical technique, seizure outcome and complications in several disconnection surgeries including the functional hemispherotomy for refractory pediatric epilepsy.

Tailored multilobar disconnective epilepsy surgery in the posterior quadrant.

Surgical treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy originating from the posterior quadrant (PQ) of the brain often requires large multilobar resections, and disconnective techniques have been advocated to limit the risks associated with extensive tissue removal. Few previous studies have described a tailored temporoparietooccipital (TPO) disconnective approach; only small series with short postoperative follow-ups have been reported. The aim of the present study was to present a tailored approach to multilobar PQ disconnections (MPQDs) for epilepsy and to provide details about selection of patients, presurgical investigations, surgical technique, treatment safety profile, and seizure and cognitive outcome in a large, single-center series of patients with a long-term follow-up. In this retrospective longitudinal study, the authors searched their prospectively collected database for patients who underwent MPQD for drug-resistant epilepsy in the period of 2005-2017. Tailored MPQDs were a posteriori grouped as follows: type I (classic full TPO disconnection), type II (partial TPO disconnection), type III (full temporooccipital [TO] disconnection), and type IV (partial TO disconnection), according to the disconnection plane in the occipitoparietal area. A bivariate statistical analysis was carried out to identify possible predictors of seizure outcome (Engel class I vs classes II-IV) among several presurgical, surgical, and postsurgical variables. Preoperative and postoperative cognitive profiles were also collected and evaluated. Forty-two consecutive patients (29 males, 24 children) met the inclusion criteria. According to the presurgical evaluation (including stereo-electroencephalography in 13 cases), 12 (28.6%), 24 (57.1%), 2 (4.8%), and 4 (9.5%) patients received a type I, II, III, or IV MPQD, respectively. After a mean follow-up of 80.6 months, 76.2% patients were in Engel class I at last contact; at 6 months and 2 and 5 years postoperatively, Engel class I was recorded in 80.9%, 74.5%, and 73.5% of cases, respectively. Factors significantly associated with seizure freedom were the occipital pattern of seizure semiology and the absence of bilateral interictal epileptiform abnormalities at the EEG (p = 0.02). Severe complications occurred in 4.8% of the patients. The available neuropsychological data revealed postsurgical improvement in verbal domains, whereas nonunivocal outcomes were recorded in the other functions. The presented data indicate that the use of careful anatomo-electro-clinical criteria in the presurgical evaluation allows for customizing the extent of surgical disconnections in PQ epilepsies, with excellent results on seizures and an acceptable safety profile.