Postoperative Epilepsy Research Articles

Optimal Timing of Cranioplasty After Decompressive Craniectomy: Timing or Collapse Ratio.

Although cranioplasty (CP) is a relatively straightforward surgical procedure, it is associated with a high complication rate. The optimal timing for this surgery remains undetermined. This study aimed to identify the most suitable timing for CP to minimize postoperative complications. We conducted a retrospective analysis of all CP cases performed in our department from August 2015 to March 2022. Data were gathered through case statistics and categorized based on the occurrence of complications. The collapse ratio was determined using 3-dimensional Slicer software. In our retrospective study of 266 patients, 51 experienced postoperative complications, including hydrocephalus, epidural effusion, subdural hematoma, epilepsy, and subcutaneous infection. Logistic regression analysis identified independent predictors of postcranioplasty complications, and a nomogram was developed. The predictive value of the logistic regression model, collapse ratio, and decompression craniotomy-CP operation interval for post-skull repair complications was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. No significant differences were observed in postoperative complications and decompression craniotomy-CP intervals between the groups (P = .07, P > .05). However, significant differences were noted in postoperative collapse ratios and CP complications between the groups (P = .023, P < .05). Logistic regression revealed that the collapse ratio (odds ratio = 1.486; 95% CI: 1.001-2.008; P = .01) and CP operation time (odds ratio = 1.017; 95% CI: 1.008-1.025, P < .001) were independent risk factors for postoperative complications. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the collapse ratio could predict CP postoperative complications, with a cutoff value of 0.274, an area under the curve of 0.621, a sensitivity of 62.75%, and a specificity of 63.26%. The post-skull repair collapse ratio is a significant predictor of postoperative complications. It is advisable to base the timing of surgery on the extent of brain tissue collapse, rather than solely on the duration between cranial decompression and CP.

Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Surgery Versus Craniotomy for Hypertensive Putamen Hemorrhage.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neuroendoscopy for treating hypertensive putamen hemorrhage (HPH), compared with traditional craniotomy. We retrospectively analyzed 81 consecutive patients with HPH treated with neuroendoscopy (n=36) or craniotomy (n=45) in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University between January 2015 and December 2017. We compared the clinical and radiographic outcomes, excluded 14 patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria. Patient characteristics in emergency room were recorded. In addition, hospitalization days, total cost during hospitalization, operative time, blood loss, evacuation rate, rebreeding, intracranial infection, pulmonary infection, epilepsy, hemorrhage of digestive tract, venous thrombus, hypoproteinemia, aphasia, oculomotor paralysis, mortality, Modified Rankin Scale score 6 months after surgery, and Glasgow Outcome Scale score 6 months after surgery were compared between the 2 groups. Comparative analysis of preoperative patient data revealed no notable disparities. Neuroendoscopic surgery afford distinct benefits including reduced operative time, minimal patient blood loss, and enhanced efficacy in hematoma evacuation. However, the incidence of postoperative complications such as rebleeding, intracranial infections, pulmonary infections, postoperative epilepsy, hemorrhage of digestive tract, venous thrombus, hypoproteinemia, aphasia, and oculomotor paralysis did not significantly differ. In contrast, endoscopic techniques, relative to conventional craniotomy for hematoma evacuation, are characterized by less invasive incisions, a marked decrease in the duration of hospitalization, and a substantial reduction in associated healthcare costs. Furthermore, endoscopic techniques contribute to superior long-term recuperative outcomes in patients, without altering mortality rates. In comparison to the conventional method of craniotomy, the utilization of neuroendoscopy in the treatment of hypertensive putamen hemorrhage (HPH) may offer a more efficacious, minimally invasive, and cost-effective approach. This alternative approach has the potential to decrease the length of hospital stays and improve long-term neurologic outcomes, without altering mortality rates.

Microsurgical removal of supratentorial and cerebellar cavernous malformations: what has changed? A single institution experience.

BackgroundFeatures associated with a safe surgical resection of cerebral cavernous malformations (CMs) are still not clear and what is needed to achieve this target has not been defined yet. MethodsClinical presentation, radiological features and anatomical locations were assessed for patients operated on from January 2008 to January 2018 for supratentorial and cerebellar cavernomas. Supratentorial CMs were divided into 3 subgroups (non-critical vs. superficial critical vs. deep critical). The clinical outcome was assessed through modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and was divided into favorable (mRS 0–1) and unfavorable (mRS ≥ 2). Post-operative epilepsy was classified according to the Maraire Scale. ResultsA total of 144 were considered eligible for the current study. At 6 months follow-up the clinical outcome was excellent for patients with cerebellar or lobar CMs in non-critical areas (mRS ≤ 1: 91.1 %) and for patients with superficial CMs in critical areas (mRS ≤ 1: 92.3 %). Patients with deep-seated suprantentorial CMs showed a favorable outcome in 76.9 %. As for epilepsy 58.5 % of patients presenting with a history of epilepsy were free from seizures and without therapy (Maraire grade I) at last follow-up (mean 3.9 years) and an additional 41.5 % had complete control of seizures with therapy (Maraire grade II). ConclusionsSurgery is safe in the management of CMs in non-critical but also in critical supratentorial locations, with a caveat for deep structures such as the insula, the basal ganglia and the thalamus/hypothalamus.

Efficacy of Personalized Postoperative Epilepsy Management in Patients with Glioblastoma Utilizing IDH1 Gene Assessment.

We explored the correlation between the presence of isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutations and the incidence of postoperative epilepsy in patients with glioblastoma, as well as assessed the efficacy of preemptive administration of antiepileptic medications in mitigating the occurrence of postoperative epilepsy. Fifty-three patients who received a postoperative pathological diagnosis of glioblastoma, were enrolled in this study. Tumor specimens were subjected to IDH1 gene analysis. The patient cohort was stratified based on their IDH1 mutation status and the administration of prophylactic antiepileptic drugs during the postoperative phase. We subsequently conducted a comparative analysis of postoperative epileptic complications within each patient subgroup. In the cohort of 53 patients under study, the occurrence of epilepsy was observed in 10 out of 21 patients carrying IDH1 mutations, while 5 out of 32 patients with wild-type IDH1 also experienced epilepsy, revealing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Among the 27 patients who received prophylactic antiepileptic drugs, 6 of them developed epilepsy, whereas 9 out of 26 patients who did not receive prophylactic antiepileptic drugs exhibited concurrent epilepsy, with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). However, when performing a subgroup analysis, it was found that 3 out of 12 patients with IDH1 mutations who received prophylactic antiepileptic drugs experienced epilepsy, whereas 7 out of 9 patients who did not receive prophylactic antiepileptic drugs developed epilepsy, demonstrating a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Furthermore, within the group of 15 patients with wild-type IDH1, 3 patients who received prophylactic antiepileptic drugs developed epilepsy, while 2 cases of epilepsy occurred among the 17 patients who did not receive prophylactic antiepileptic drugs, with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). In individuals with IDH1 mutant glioblastoma who have undergone surgical resection, the implementation of preventive antiepileptic therapy demonstrates a potential to diminish the occurrence of postoperative epilepsy.

1238 Next Generation Sequencing of Gliomas to Identify Predictors of Time to Postoperative Epilepsy

INTRODUCTION: Seizures during the course of disease for patients with diffuse gliomas is common. As genetic characterization of gliomas has improved, how a tumors mutational profile influences the timing of postoperative seizures, and if postoperative seizures relate to survival and tumor progression, is poorly understood. METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive adults from 2017 to 2020 who underwent resection of gliomas with next generation sequencing of tumors at a single institution was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to identify factors associated with time to postoperative seizures. Seizures within 72 hours of surgery were excluded. RESULTS: 363 patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent tumor tissue genotyped via next generation sequencing were included. Median follow-up time was 37.4 months, median time to seizure after surgery was 39.2 months (95% CI 34.6 – 60.8), and IDH-mutant tumors comprised 38.3% of the cohort. Patients with IDH-mutant tumors were more likely to have non-immediate postoperative seizures (p = 0.031) and more persistent postoperative seizures (p = 0.004) compared to IDH-wildtype tumors. PDGFRA mutation was associated with shorter time to seizure in IDH-mutant gliomas (p = 0.033), with no such genetic factors in IDH-wildtype tumors. Among IDH-mutant and wildtype tumors, patients with shorter seizure freedom had significantly shorter overall and progression-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: PDGFRA mutation is associated with earlier seizures after resection of IDH-mutant diffuse gliomas. Earlier first non-immediate postoperative seizure after resection is associated with worse overall and progression-free survival.

Contrast-induced encephalopathy after an embolization procedure for a cerebral aneurysm in a female with subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case report

BackgroundContrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) is a rare complication during or after angiography, usually transient and reversible. CIE diagnosis is challenging due to the absence of no formal diagnostic criteria. CIE can mimic stroke symptoms, including visual disturbances, seizures, confusion, coma, and focal neurological deficits. This case reports neurological deficit reversal in a CIE patient due to the embolization of an intracranial aneurysm, the second angiographic procedure in six days.Case presentationA 77-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for headaches. The cerebral computed tomography (CT) scan indicated a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The first digital subtraction angiography (DSA) identified an aneurysm of 4 mm ∗ 3 mm in size in the M1 segment of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA). Then, embolization surgery was performed for the cerebral aneurysm, which was successful. However, the patient had post-operative headaches, slurred speech, epilepsy, limb weakness, and delirium post-procedure. The non-contrast cerebral CT indicated widespread edema in the right cerebral hemisphere. The patient was diagnosed with CIE and treated with symptomatic supportive therapy. Eventually, the patient’s neurological deficits and cerebral edema improved significantly.ConclusionsThe current case emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and symptomatic treatment of CIE. Thus, CIE should be the first consideration during the differential diagnosis of a patient having acute neurological impairment after repeated DSA.

Analysis of complications and learning curve effects related to deep brain stimulation surgery in 822 Parkinson's disesase patients with the same surgeon

Objective: To analyze the complications related to deep brain stimulation(DBS) surgery in Parkinson's disease(PD) patients and to determine whether there is a learning curve effect in terms of complications. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the DBS surgical data of 822 PD patients performed by the same surgeon at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital) from December 2012 to December 2022. The complications related to DBS were evaluated and analyzed the complications of every 100 DBS surgery were further analyzed. Results: A total of 822 PD patients, 453 males and 369 females, aged 31-80 years old, were included. The minimum follow-up period after DBS surgery is 6 months. Surgical related complications occurred in 55 patients (6.69%), including 5 patients (0.61%) with slight bleeding around the electrode, 1 patient (0.12%) with cerebral infarction, 4 patients (0.49%) with postoperative epilepsy, 42 patients (5.11%) with postoperative delirium, 2 patients (0.24%) with respiratory distress, and 1 patient (0.12%) with acute cardiac insufficiency. There were 16 cases (1.94%) of hardware related complications in DBS, of which 4 cases (0.48%) had infection, 1 case (0.12%) had a broken angle at the connection between the pulse generator and the extension wire, 8 cases (0.97%) had an excessively tight extension wire, and 3 cases (0.36%) had an IPG bag hematoma. In the infected cases, 2 patients removed IPG and extension wires. There were 7 cases (0.85%) of stimulus related complications, including 4 cases (0.61%) with programmed sensory abnormalities, 1 case (0.12%) with postoperative abnormal movements and dance like movements, and 2 cases (0.24%) with psychiatric symptoms. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the above complications, among which 8 cases (0.97%) were relatively serious complications. After active treatment, satisfactory results were achieved, and none of them affected the patient's DBS treatment effect and no patients died. For every 100 cases of DBS surgery complications were analyzed, the percentage of complications decreased significantly from 14.50% (58 cases) in the first 400 cases to 4.73% (20 cases) in the last 400 cases (P<0.001). Conclusion: DBS surgery is safe and has an acceptable low incidence of complications. The incidence of complications also decreases with the accumulation of experience, showing a learning curve effect.

10027-CBMS-3 POSTOPERATIVE EPILEPTOGENICITY IN GLIOBLASTOMA ARE ACHIEVED AS THE RESULT OF INTERACTIVE FLUCTUATIONS OF GLUTAMATE AND STEM CELL MARKER

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE In our recent Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cases, postoperative epilepsy mostly occurred later than twenty-eight days after surgery. CD44, a stem cell marker, is known to relate with tumor cell invasiveness, however, little are known with epilepsy nor glutamate (Glu). We investigated the relationship between CD44 and the pathophysiology of this post operative late-phase epilepsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 10 GBM cases received surgery and postoperative treatment at our institute were divided into two groups; 4 cases of epilepsy onset, group E, and 6 cases without, group NE. In each group, the tumor was separated into core and periphery, from which Glu was measured (Amino Acid Analyzer L8900; Hitachi High-Tech Corporation) with expression of xCT, EAAT2 and CD44 examined (Western blot). The same objects were also examined on our three glioma stem-like cell (GSC) lines. In addition, we figured Factor X (F-X) as a key related factor, and evaluated the same objects on the GSCs under conditioned F-X (under submission). RESULTS Group E showed higher Glu than group NE both in the core and periphery. CD44 expression was significantly higher in group E in the periphery, and xCT was higher in group E both in the core and periphery. EAAT2 was lower in group E both in the core and periphery. Among the GSCs, GSC-2 had the highest CD44 expression while having the lowest xCT and extracellular Glu, and the highest EAAT2. In addition, CD44 knockdown in GSC-2 resulted in significant increase of xCT expression and extracellular Glu. Furthermore, changing the concentration of F-X low to high led to decreased expression of CD44 and increased xCT. CONCLUSION The postoperative epileptogenicity could be gained by the increase of Glu which results from the alterations of CD44, xCT and EAAT2. F-X could enhance the ability of Glu discharge.

Antiepileptic therapy algorithms in patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors

Up to date the brain tumors incidence keeps growing worldwide. Epilepsy and epileptic seizures are one of the most common clinical features of brain tumors. The aim of the study was to invent the algorithms antiepileptic treatment of patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors based on literature data. We searched eLIBRARY, PubMed databases by keywords. We concluded, that preventive antiepileptic drugs administration in patients with primary or metastatic brain lesions does not lower the risk of acute symptomatic postoperative seizures or epilepsy incidence, and therefore should not be recommended. Experts’ opinion states that in patients with brain tumors even one unprovoked seizure makes it feasible to initiate antiepileptic drugs therapy as soon as possible. In case of two or more unprovoked episodes (with over 24 hours difference) the diagnosis of “epilepsy” is legitimate and antiepileptic therapy should be started. The treating physician’s choice of antiepileptic therapy is based on type of seizures, age and sex of the patient, the comorbidity and potential antiepileptic drugs pharmacokinetic interactions with other drugs (including chemotherapy), in particular, one should avoid the use of liver microsomal-inducing antiepileptic drugs. The presented algorithms provide the decision-making guidelines in case of intraoperative focal seizures, acute symptomatic seizures and status epilepticus occurrence in early postoperative period.

BIOM-14. INCREASED RATIO OF GLUTAMATE TO TOTAL CREATINE IN GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS WITH THE POST-OPERATIVE EPILEPSY

Abstract Epilepsy in glioblastoma patients significantly reduces their quality of life; however, little is known about the association between predicting epilepsy and metabolites in tumors. In this study, we used 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to quantify metabolite concentrations in patients with varying epilepsy histories. MRS data were quantified with linear combination model (LC-Model) software. From January 2013 to April 2020, fifty-one patients with primary glioblastoma underwent pretreatment 3.0-T MRI/1H-MRS scanning. Twenty-one patients (41%) suffered from epilepsy during the postoperative course, although forty-seven patients (97%) took anti-epileptic drug after surgery. MRS data were compared between groups with and without the post-operative epilepsy. The higher ratios of glutamate (Glu) and glutamate + glutamine (Glx) to total creatine (tCr) in the tumor were significantly associated with epilepsy history (Glu/tCr P &amp;lt; 0.001, Glx/tCr P = 0.004, respectively). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a Glu/tCr value of 1.81 was 70% sensitive and 90% specific for the prediction of epilepsy during the postoperative course (area under curve: 0.82). These results suggest that the Glu/tCr ratio in tumors can be a predictive maker for early detection of epileptic seizures after surgery in glioblastoma patients.

NCOG-12. SURVIVAL OF THE ELDERLY: OUTCOMES OF VERY OLD GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS – RESULTS FROM AN AUSTRIAN MULTICENTER STUDY

Abstract INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma (GBM) outcomes in very old patients remain understudied. Limited data exist on outcomes and treatment options for this specific population, necessitating further research. Materials and METHODS We retrospectively analyzed all elderly GBM patients ( &amp;gt;65 years), who underwent treatment at two Austrian academic centers from 2007 to 2021. We conducted a comparative analysis between patients aged 65-79 years (old cohort) and a cohort of patients aged over 80 years (very old cohort). RESULTS 387 patients were included, 43 of them over 80 years of age at the time of surgery. Median preoperative Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) amounted to 80, median preoperative tumor volume was 26.44cm3. Among elderly patients 283 (75%) underwent resection and 61 (25%) only biopsy. 66.5% of the elderly cohort underwent adjuvant treatment following the EORTC protocol. 88 patients (25.6%) experienced preoperative seizures. Among the very old cohort 29 patients (67%) underwent resection and 14 (33%) biopsy only. 42.5% received adjuvant treatment, 5 patients (11.6%) presented with preoperative epilepsy. Mean PFS was 8.9 months in old patients and 8.4 months in very old patients. Kaplan Meier Analysis revealed a mean OS of 12.8 vs 10.7 months respectively. Elderly patients showed significantly better preoperative KPS (p=0.033) as well as higher preoperative tumor volumes (p=0.039). Old patients showed significantly higher incidences of both preoperative (p=0.043) and postoperative (p=0.032) epilepsy. Furthermore, old patients underwent significantly more often resection (p=0.020) and adjuvant therapy (p=0.009) compared to very old patients. However, survival analysis showed no statistic differences regarding PFS and OS between the two groups (p &amp;gt;0.05). CONCLUSION Despite preexisting unfavorable prognostic features, we could not find any significant differences between old and very old GBM patients. Hence, the treatment of glioblastoma in very old patients should adopt a more inclusive approach considering the patient's overall health status and comorbidities.

Epilepsy Outcome and Pathology Analysis for Ganglioglioma: A Series of 51 Pediatric Patients

BackgroundThe postoperative epilepsy outcome and clinicopathological features in children with ganglioglioma (GG) are not well understood. MethodsData from 51 consecutive pediatric patients diagnosed with GGs who underwent surgery were collected. The correlations between the expression of CD34 and BRAF V600E mutations and clinical features were analyzed. The related factors affecting the outcome of epilepsy were analyzed. ResultsThe average follow-up was 44.2 months, and 48 patients were seizure-free. A high proportion of BRAF V600E mutation (78.8%) and CD34 expression (77.8%) was detected in GG. The onset age of epilepsy with the BRAF V600E mutation was earlier than that without. The expression of CD34 increased with the age of onset, the duration of epilepsy, and the age of operation. Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) I was found in 62.7% of patients, and FCD II was found in 11.8% of patients approximately in the cortex surrounding GG. There was no significant correlation between the outcome of epilepsy and BRAF V600E mutation, CD34 expression, and combination with FCD. ConclusionsThe overall outcome of GG and epilepsy in children is optimistic, and the outcome is not closely related to the presence of BRAF V600E mutation and CD34 (+). The FCD surrounding GG could be type I or type II. Incomplete resection of the surrounding FCD has the risk of unsatisfactory control of epilepsy. Children with the BRAF V600E mutation may be prone to early-onset epilepsy. The expression of CD34 is more likely to be detected in children with older age and a long duration of epilepsy.

Postoperative de novo epilepsy after resection of brain arteriovenous malformations: a national database study of 536 patients.

We aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors for de novo epilepsy after AVM resection and compare them with a non-resection cohort after propensity score matching, utilizing a national database. Utilizing the TriNetX Research Network, we queried cases from 1/1/2004 to 3/1/2022. We included patients of all ages who underwent supratentorial AVM resection, presenting without seizures on or before surgery and without being on antiseizure medications at least 1 day before surgery. The primary outcome was seizures manifesting at least 6 weeks after surgery. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between the cohorts with and without postoperative epilepsy. Further cohorts were created to compare cohorts with and without embolization or rupture. After propensity score matching, we compared an additional cohort of patients with an AVM diagnosis who did not undergo resection. Of the 536 patients (mean age 38.9±19.6, 52% females) presenting without seizure who underwent AVM resection, 99 (18.5%) developed de novo epilepsy, with a one-year cumulative incidence of 13.8%. Patients with epilepsy had higher rates of intracerebral hemorrhage, and intracerebral hemorrhage was less common in the embolization cohort. Patients in the ruptured cohort were older and more often males. After propensity score matching with 18588 patients with AVM diagnosis but no resection, each group consisted of 529 patients, and de novo epilepsy at 1 year was significantly higher in the AVM resection cohort compared to the non-resection cohort (11.5% vs. 3.4%, p<0.001). This analysis of 536 patients provides evidence that de novo epilepsy after brain AVM resection occurs at a one-year cumulative incidence of 13.8%, with a total of 19.4% developing de novo epilepsy. Intracerebral hemorrhage was inconsistently associated with postoperative de novo epilepsy. De novo epilepsy was significantly less frequent after AVM diagnosis without resection.

Endoscopy-assisted purely total outer wall excision for pediatric Sylvian arachnoid cysts

BackgroundTo present a novel endoscopy-assisted surgical strategy of Sylvian arachnoid cysts (ACs).Case presentationEndoscopy-assisted surgery was performed on 9 children (May 2019–December 2021). All patients were evaluated with CT and/or MRI and had regular follow-up examinations. The procedure consisted of performing a small temporal craniotomy (2 cm) behind the hairline. After dural opening, the surgery was performed with the assistance of a rigid 30-degree transcranial endoscope, self-irrigating bipolar forceps, and other standard endoscopic instruments. Steps included total excision of the AC outer wall and dissection of arachnoid adhesion around the cystic edge to communicate the residual cyst cavity with subdural space. Compared with the microscopical procedure, a 30-degree transcranial endoscope provides a wider view, especially for the lateral part exposure of the outer wall.The average age of the patients was 27.7 months (range 13–44 months). The Sylvian AC was in the right hemisphere in three patients and six in the left, respectively. 1 patient suffered transient postoperative epilepsy. There was no mortality or additional postoperative neurological deficit in this series. All of the patients achieved significant clinical improvement after surgery. Radiological examination after the operation showed a significant reduction in all cases (100%, 9/9) and disappearance in one case (11.1%, 1/9). Postoperative subdural fluid collection occurred in six cases and completely resolved spontaneously in 9 months.ConclusionThe study demonstrated the minimally invasive, safety, and effectivity of the endoscopy-assisted purely total outer wall excision.

Disconnection Surgery in Pediatric Epilepsy: A Single Center's Experience With 185 Cases.

Lobar and multilobar disconnections have gradually become common surgical methods in pediatric epilepsy surgery in recent years. However, the surgical procedures, postoperative epilepsy outcomes, and complications reported by each center are quite different. To review and analyze the clinical data from lobar disconnection in treating intractable pediatric epilepsy and study the characteristics, surgical outcomes, and safety of different disconnection surgeries. This was a retrospective analysis of 185 children with intractable epilepsy who underwent various lobar disconnections at the Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital. Clinical information was grouped according to their characteristics. The differences in the abovementioned characteristics among the different lobar disconnections were summarized, and risk factors affecting the surgical outcome and postsurgical complications were explored. Among the 185 patients, 149 patients (80.5%) achieved seizure freedom with a follow-up of 2.1 years. There were 145 patients (78.4%) with malformations of cortical development (MCD). The seizure onset time (median 6 months, P = .001) and surgery time (median 34 months, P = .000) of the MCD group were smaller. Differences were found in etiology, resection of the insular lobe and epilepsy outcome among different disconnection approaches. Both parieto-occipital disconnection ( P = .038, odds ratio = 8.126) and MRI abnormalities larger than the disconnection extent ( P = .030, odds ratio = 2.670) affected the epilepsy outcome. Early postoperative complications were observed in 43 patients (23.3%), and long-term postoperative complications were observed in 5 patients (2.7%). The most common etiology of epilepsy in children undergoing lobar disconnection is MCD, whose onset and operative ages are the youngest. Disconnection surgery obtained good seizure outcomes in the treatment of pediatric epilepsy with a low incidence of long-term complications. With advances in presurgical evaluation, disconnection surgery will play a more important role in young children with intractable epilepsy.

Malignant cerebral edema after cranioplasty, a rare complication: case series and literature review.

The authors report on four cases of patients who underwent cranioplasty following decompressive craniotomy and subsequently died after surgery. Three of the patients had undergone craniotomy following trauma, while one patient had skull resorption. All four patients developed cerebral oedema immediately after surgery and exhibited significant craniofacial depression (also known as sunk flap syndrome). A negative pressure drainage system was utilized in all cases. One patient remained intubated, while the remaining three developed postoperative epilepsy and subsequently fell into a coma. Dilated and fixed pupils were observed in all patients, and computed tomography scans revealed diffuse cerebral oedema. Despite intensive resuscitation efforts and attempts at decompression, all four patients ultimately succumbed to their conditions. Fatal post-cranioplasty malignant cerebral oedema is a rare but very dangerous complication. Despite being rare, neurosurgeons should be aware that this fatal complication can occur after cranioplasty.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Epilepsy after Combined Re-Vascularization in Adult Patients with Moyamoya Disease.

Re-vascularization is an effective treatment for moyamoya disease (MMD) patients, including direct re-vascularization, indirect re-vascularization and combined re-vascularization, in which combined re-vascularization is particularly widely used. At present, there are few reports on the analysis of epilepsy after combined re-vascularization surgery. To analysis the risk factors of epilepsy in adult MMD patients after combined re-vascularization. Patients with MMD who underwent combined re-vascularization in the Department of Neurosurgery of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province from January 2015 to June 2020 were included. Their pre-operative and post-operative complication-related indicators were collected. Finally, logistic regression was used to analyze the clinical risk factors of epilepsy in MMD patients after operation. The incidence of epilepsy after combined re-vascularization was 15.5%. Univariate analysis showed that pre-operative ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, pre-operative epilepsy, pre-operative history of diabetes, the location of the bypass recipient artery (frontal or temporal lobe), post-operative new cerebral infarction, hyper-perfusion syndrome, and post-operative intra-cranial hemorrhage were the clinical risk factors of epilepsy in MMD patients (all P < 0.05). Multi-variate logistic regression analysis showed that pre-operative epilepsy, the location of the bypass recipient artery, new cerebral infarction, hyper-perfusion syndrome, and post-operative intra-cranial hemorrhage (all P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for post-operative epilepsy in MMD patients. Pre-operative epilepsy, the location of the bypass recipient artery, new cerebral infarction, hyper-perfusion syndrome, and intra-cranial hemorrhage may have a causal relationship with epilepsy in adult MMD patients. It is suggested that some risk factors could be intervened to reduce the incidence of post-operative epilepsy in MMD patients.

Factors associated with pre-operative and early and late post-operative seizures in patients with supratentorial meningiomas.

Risk factors for epilepsy in meningioma patients are not yet clearly defined, however, seizure freedom is a significant factor for quality of life after surgery. We performed a retrospective study of the 333 adult patients who received surgery for supratentorial meningioma at our centre. Various clinical, radiological, and surgical variables were included in the multivariate regression, and the outcomes measured were the occurrence of seizure(s) pre-operatively, during the hospitalization, and during the follow-up period. A total of 89 (26,7%) patients experienced pre-operative seizures, of whom 62.9% were seizure-free after the surgery. Of 244 patients without epilepsy before surgery, 11.9% had at least one seizure post-operatively. In total, 63 of our patients (18.9%) experienced seizures after the surgery, of whom 20 had refractory epilepsy. Multivariate analysis identified the following predictors of pre-operative seizures: absence of headache (OR: 0.23, CI: 2.55-8.50), the presence of significant peritumoural oedema (OR: 4.35, CI: 2.57-7.35), and younger age (OR: 0.97 per year increase, CI: 0.95-0.99). Factors associated with early post-operative seizures were: younger age (OR: 0.96 per year increase, CI: 0.93-0.99) and presence of pre-operative seizures (OR: 2.73, CI: 1.13-6.57), while the presence of pre-operative seizures (OR: 4.73, CI: 2,05-10.92), tumour progression (OR: 5.38, CI: 2.25-12.89) and neurological worsening (OR: 5.21 CI: 1.72-15.81) were significant for late post-operative seizures. Our results from a single-centre meningioma cohort confirm, in general, data from some previous studies regarding patients' characteristics for both pre-operative and overall post-operative epilepsy. Besides previously described risk factors, younger age was important for pre-operative and early post-operative seizures. Epilepsy is common in patients with recurrence of meningioma, but the variables of significance for refractory seizures in these patients require further examination.

Cavernoma-Related Epilepsy: Postoperative Epilepsy Outcome and Analysis of the Predictive Factors, Case Series.

Epilepsy is common in patients harboring cavernous malformation, and surgery is reported to be an effective treatment. However, few patients still experience seizures after surgery. We analyzed the outcome and predictive factors after cavernoma-related epilepsy (CRE) surgery. A database was created for all patients with CRE treated surgically from 2003 to 2020 at a university hospital. A chart review, perioperative epilepsy workup, surgical strategies, and postoperative and follow-up notes were analyzed. Postoperative seizure outcome was evaluated according to the Engel classification. Thirty-seven patients (40.5% women; mean age 39.1 ± 14.5 years) were studied. The mean follow-up time was 5.6 ± 3.9 years. Among 37 patients, 32 (86.5%) achieved Engel class I at the last follow-up. Engel class II was found in 1 (2.7%), Engel class III in 1 (2.7%), and Engel class IV in 3 (8.1%) cases. Engel class Ia was observed in 23 patients (62.2%). None of the patients had a worse seizure outcome after the operation (Engel class IVc). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that short-standing, sporadic, or low-frequent (≤3) seizures were the only variables significantly associated with seizure freedom, whereas longstanding, drug-resistant, or high-frequent seizure history were associated with worse seizure outcomes. Surgical treatment results in favorable seizure control in most patients after CRE surgery. Long duration of epilepsy before surgery, high seizure frequency, and drug-resistant epilepsy could have a negative effect on seizure outcome (Engel class II-IV). Therefore, early surgical resection of the cavernoma after careful presurgical planning is recommended to achieve an optimal result.

Development of an integrated predictive model for postoperative glioma-related epilepsy using gene-signature and clinical data

BackgroundThis study aimed to develop an integrated model for predicting the occurrence of postoperative seizures in patients with diffuse high-grade gliomas (DHGGs) using clinical and RNA-seq data.MethodsPatients with DHGGs, who received prophylactic anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) for three months following surgery, were enrolled into the study. The patients were assigned randomly into training (n = 166) and validation (n = 42) cohorts. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified based on preoperative glioma-related epilepsy (GRE) history. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression analysis was used to construct a predictive gene-signature for the occurrence of postoperative seizures. The final integrated prediction model was generated using the gene-signature and clinical data. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and calibration curve method were used to evaluate the accuracy of the gene-signature and prediction model using the training and validation cohorts.ResultsA seven-gene signature for predicting the occurrence of postoperative seizures was developed using LASSO logistic regression analysis of 623 DEGs. The gene-signature showed satisfactory predictive capacity in the training cohort [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.842] and validation cohort (AUC = 0.751). The final integrated prediction model included age, temporal lobe involvement, preoperative GRE history, and gene-signature-derived risk score. The AUCs of the integrated prediction model were 0.878 and 0.845 for the training and validation cohorts, respectively.ConclusionWe developed an integrated prediction model for the occurrence of postoperative seizures in patients with DHGG using clinical and RNA-Seq data. The findings of this study may contribute to the development of personalized management strategies for patients with DHGGs and improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying GRE in these patients.