Predictors of outcome of anterior temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy

Neurology ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 465-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Radhakrishnan ◽  
E. L. So ◽  
P. L. Silbert ◽  
C. R. Jack ◽  
G. D. Cascino ◽  
...  

Objective: To identify presurgical and postsurgical factors that are independently predictive of the outcome of anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) for intractable epilepsy.Background: There have been reports of prognostic studied 175 consecutive ATL patients who had at least 2 years of postsurgical follow-up. Significant factors on univariate analyses were subjected to stepwise logistic regression analysis.Results: On univariate analyses, two presurgical conditions were significantly associated with excellent seizure control at last follow-up: (1) unilateral hippocampal formation atrophy as detected on MRI and (2) all scalp interictal epileptiform discharges concordant with the location of ictal onset(p < 0.05). Three postsurgical factors that occurred during the first year were associated with excellent seizure outcome: the absence of interictal epileptiform discharges at 3 months, complete seizure control, and having only nondisabling seizures for those who did not become seizure free. Logistic regression analysis revealed the following to be independently predictive of excellent seizure control: MRI-detected unilateral hippocampal formation atrophy, concordant interictal epileptiform discharges, complete seizure control during the first postsurgical year, and having only nondisabling seizures during the first postsurgical year for those who did not become seizure free.Conclusions: Presurgical identification of unilateral hippocampal formation atrophy, or of interictal epileptiform discharges that are all concordant with the location of ictal onset, predict excellent outcome of ATL. However, the probability of excellent outcome is highest (94%) when both factors are present.

1997 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 444-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elson L. So ◽  
Kurapath Radhakrishnan ◽  
Peter L. Silbert ◽  
Gregory D. Cascino ◽  
Frank W. Sharbrough

1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhaskara Rao Malla ◽  
Terence J. O'Brien ◽  
Gregory D. Cascino ◽  
Elson L. So ◽  
Kurupath Radhakrishnan ◽  
...  

Object. Recurrence of seizures immediately following epilepsy surgery can be emotionally devastating, and raises concerns about the chances of successfully attaining long-term seizure control. The goals of this study were to investigate the frequency of acute postoperative seizures (APOS) occurring in the 1st postoperative week following anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) to identify potential risk factors and to determine their prognostic significance. Methods. One hundred sixty consecutive patients who underwent an ATL for intractable nonlesional temporal lobe epilepsy were retrospectively studied. Acute postoperative seizures occurred in 32 patients (20%). None of the following factors were shown to be significantly associated with the occurrence of APOS: age at surgery, duration of epilepsy, side of surgery, extent of neocortical resection, electrocorticography findings, presence of mesial temporal sclerosis, and hippocampal volume measurements (p > 0.05). Patients who suffered from APOS overall had a lower rate of favorable outcome with respect to seizure control at the last follow-up examination than patients without APOS (62.5% compared with 83.6%, p < 0.05). The type of APOS was of prognostic importance, with patients whose APOS were similar to their preoperative habitual seizures having a significantly worse outcome than those whose APOS were auras or were focal motor and/or generalized tonic—clonic seizures (excellent outcome: 14.3%, 77.8%, and 75%, respectively, p < 0.05). Only patients who had APOS similar to preoperative habitual seizures were less likely to have an excellent outcome than patients without APOS (14.3% compared with 75%, p < 0.05). Timing of the APOS and identification of a precipitating factor were of no prognostic importance. Conclusions. The findings of this study may be useful in counseling patients who suffer from APOS following ATL for temporal lobe epilepsy.


1999 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. E4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhaskara Rao Malla ◽  
Terence J. O'Brien ◽  
Gregory D. Cascino ◽  
Elson L. So ◽  
Kurupath Radhakrishnan ◽  
...  

Recurrence of seizures immediately following epilepsy surgery can be emotionally devastating, and raises concerns about the chances of successfully attaining long-term seizure control. The goals of this study were to investigate the frequency of acute postoperative seizure (APOS) occurring in the 1st postoperative week following anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) to identify potential risk factors and to determine their prognostic significance. One hundred sixty consecutive patients who underwent an ATL for intractable nonlesional temporal lobe epilepsy were retrospectively studied. Acute postoperative seizures occurred in 32 patients (20%). None of the following factors were shown to be significantly associated with the occurrence of APOS: age at surgery, duration of epilepsy, side of surgery, extent of neocortical resection, electrocorticography findings, presence of mesial temporal sclerosis, and hippocampal volume measurements (p > 0.05). Patients who suffered from APOS overall had a lower rate of favorable outcome with respect to seizure control at the last follow-up examination than patients without APOS (62.5% compared with 83.6%, p < 0.05). The type of APOS was of prognostic importance, with patients whose APOS were similar to their preoperative habitual seizures having a significantly worse outcome than those whose APOS were auras or were focal motor and/or generalized tonic-clonic seizures (excellent outcome: 14.3%, 77.8%, and 75%, respectively, p < 0.05). Only patients who had APOS similar to preoperative habitual seizures were less likely to have an excellent outcome than patients without APOS (14.3% compared with 75%, p < 0.05). Timing of the APOS and identification of a precipitating factor were of no prognostic importance. The findings of this study may be useful in counseling patients who suffer from APOS following ATL for temporal lobe epilepsy.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laryssa C Azevedo Almeida ◽  
Vanessa Alves Lobato ◽  
Maria do Carmo Vasconcelos Santos ◽  
Aline Curcio de Moraes ◽  
Bruno Silva Costa

Abstract IntroductionTemporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is a high prevalence neurological disorder and tends to drug refractoriness. Surgery has emerged as a promising treatment for managing crises and a better quality of life for these patients. The objective of this work is to compare the surgical results in terms of seizures control concerning the surgical technique performed (Anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) vs. Selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SAH)) in a cohort of 132 patients operated in an epilepsy reference center.Materials and methodsWe performed a retrospective study based on the review of medical records of 146 patients operated for TLE from 2008 to 2019 at the Santa Casa de Misericordia in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Initially, 13 patients were excluded from the study due to insufficient medical record data or follow-up loss. We used the ILAE (International League Against Epilepsy) scale to classify seizure control after surgery. We compared the surgical groups using the survival and Kaplan-Maier curves.ResultsA total of 132 patients were evaluated in this study, with a mean follow-up time after surgery of 57.2 months (12-137). In our data analysis, we found that the group of patients undergoing ATL had a higher prevalence of being completely seizure-free (ILAE I) (57,1% vs. 31%) and a higher rate of satisfactory seizure control (88,6% vs. 69,3%) p =0.006.ConclusionThe literature is still controversial about seizure control results concerning the surgical technique used due to the lack of studies with a robust methodology for an adequate comparison. In our data analysis, we identified the superiority of ATL over SAH in seizure outcomes.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera C. Terra ◽  
Helio R. Machado ◽  
Ricardo dos Santos Oliveira ◽  
Luciano N Serafini ◽  
Cecília Souza-Oliveira ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Rasmussen Encephalitis (RE) is characterized by intractable epilepsy, progressive hemiparesis and unilateral hemispheric atrophy. The progression of the symptoms usually occurs within months to few years. Antiepileptic drugs are usually not effective to control disease progression and epilepsy surgery in the form of hemispheric disconnection has been considered the treatment of choice. This work describes the clinical and electrographic analyses, as well as the post-operative evolution of patients with RE. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This work includes all the patients with RE evaluated from January 1995 to January 2008 by the Ribeirão Preto Epilepsy Surgery Program (CIREP) considering demographic data, interictal and ictal electroencephalographic (EEG) findings; anatomo-pathological findings and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were evaluated, thirteen were female. Mean age of epilepsy onset was 4.4±2.0 years. There were no differences between patients with slow and fast evolution with respect to age of epilepsy onset (p=0.79), age at surgery (p=0.24), duration of epilepsy (0.06), and follow-up (p=0.40). There were no correlations between the presence of bilateral EEG abnormalities or the absence of spikes and post-operative seizure outcome (p=0.06). Twenty-three patients underwent surgery. The mean follow-up was 75.3 months. Eleven patients had total seizure control. Twelve individuals persisted with seizures consisting of mild facial jerks (6 patients), occasional hemigeneralized tonic-clonic seizures (3 patients), and frequent tonic-clonic seizures (3 patients). Mental and language impairment was observed in 15 and 12 patients, after surgery, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study reported the clinical and electrographic analysis, as well as the evolution of 23 patients with RE. Fourteen patients achieved satisfactory seizure control, three patients had partial response to surgery, and five patients had maintenance of the pre-operative condition. All patients with left side involvement presented with some language and cognitive disturbance.


2006 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fani Andelman ◽  
Svetlana Kipervasser ◽  
Miri Y. Neufeld ◽  
Uri Kramer ◽  
Itzhak Fried

Object Surgery for refractory epilepsy often bestows significant relief but may cause memory impairment. The risk of postoperative memory loss can be determined by the intracarotid amobarbital procedure, or the Wada test. Chemical inactivation of the hemisphere on the side of the lesion is usually performed first, followed by inactivation of the contralateral hemisphere. Patients who demonstrate adequate memory capacity of the contralateral hemisphere following deactivation of the ipsilateral hemisphere are considered good candidates for anterior temporal lobectomy. Evidence for the contribution of deactivating the contralateral healthy hemisphere remains inconclusive. Methods The authors analyzed results in 32 patients with intractable epilepsy who had undergone a bilateral Wada test followed by an anterior temporal lobectomy and in whom the findings of both pre- and postsurgical neuropsychological evaluations were available. The Wada memory scores were correlated with the difference in scores between pre- and postsurgical standardized memory test scores. Conclusions Analyses revealed no significant relationship between the Wada memory scores in the contralateral hemisphere and postsurgical changes in memory abilities. There was, however, a significant negative correlation between the Wada memory score in the ipsilateral hemisphere and postsurgical memory changes, particularly in patients with right hemisphere epileptogenic lesions (p = 0.0007). The results of this study are discussed vis-à-vis two theories of hippocampal function, and the authors stress the importance of the functional status of the surgical hemisphere in the prediction of postsurgical memory changes.


2006 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliseu Paglioli ◽  
André Palmini ◽  
Mirna Portuguez ◽  
Eduardo Paglioli ◽  
Ney Azambuja ◽  
...  

Object The aim of this study was to compare seizure and memory outcome in patients with medically refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE/HS) treated using an anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) or a selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SA). Methods Surgical outcome data were prospectively collected for 2 to 11 years in 161 consecutive patients with MTLE/HS. Eighty patients underwent an ATL and 81 an SA. Seizure control achieved with each technique was compared using the Engel classification scheme. Postoperative memory testing was performed in 86 patients (53%). At the last follow up, 72% of the patients who had undergone an ATL (mean follow up 6.7 years) and 71% of those who had undergone an SA (mean follow up 4.5 years) were seizure free (Engle Class IA). Estimated survival in patients in Engel Classes I, IA, and I and II combined did not differ between the two surgical techniques. Preoperatively, 58% of the patients had verbal memory scores one standard deviation (SD) below the normal mean. One third of the patients with preoperative scores in the normal range worsened after surgery, although this outcome was not related to the surgical technique. In contrast, one third of those whose preoperative scores were less than −1 SD experienced improvement after surgery. Nine (18%) of the 50 patients whose left side had been surgically treated improved their verbal memory scores by more than one SD. Seven (78%) of these nine underwent an SA (p = 0.05). Conclusions Both ATL and SA can lead to similar favorable seizure control in patients with MTLE/HS. Preliminary data suggest that postoperative verbal memory scores may improve in patients who undergo selective resection of a sclerotic hippocampus in the dominant temporal lobe.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Anthony Ciliberto ◽  
David Limbrick ◽  
Alexander Powers ◽  
Jeffrey B. Titus ◽  
Rebecca Munro ◽  
...  

Object Intractable epilepsy is a significant burden on families and on the cognitive development and quality of life (QOL) of patients. Periinsular hemispherotomy (PIH) for medically intractable epilepsy can benefit patients who qualify for this procedure. The ideal hemispherotomy candidate has ipsilateral ictal and interictal epileptiform activity, unilateral MR imaging abnormalities, contralateral hemiplegia, and a normal contralateral hemisphere. However, certain patients present with a mixed picture of bilateral electroencephalography (EEG) findings and severe intractable epilepsy, prompting consideration of a more aggressive treatment approach. This report introduces the possibility of surgery for patients who normally would not meet criteria for this treatment modality. Methods In this retrospective chart review, the authors report on 7 patients with bilateral seizure onset noted on routine or video-EEG monitoring. A QOL phone questionnaire, based on the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy tool, was administered to a parent. The authors reviewed each patient's chart for surgical complications, changes in examination, QOL, limited neuropsychological outcomes, and seizure outcomes. They also investigated each chart for MR imaging and EEG findings as well as the patient's epilepsy clinic notes for seizure semiology and frequency. Results All patients enjoyed a decrease in seizure frequency and a subjective increase in QOL after PIH. Five patients (71%) achieved Engel Class I or II seizure control. The mean follow-up was 3.64 years (2–5.3 years). One patient is now off all antiseizure medication. No patient had a decrement in Full Scale IQ on postsurgical testing, and 2 (28.5%) of 7 individuals had increased adaptive and social functioning. Postsurgical examination changes included hemiplegia and homonymous hemianopia. Conclusions Hemispherotomy in patients with intractable epilepsy is generally reserved for individuals with unilateral epileptiform abnormalities or lesions on MR imaging. Seven patients in this study benefited from surgery despite bilateral seizure onset with improvement in seizure control and overall QOL. Thus, bilateral ictal onset does not necessarily preclude consideration for hemispherotomy in selected patients with severe medically refractory epilepsy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 565
Author(s):  
Aayesha Soni ◽  
Edward Lee Pan ◽  
Lawrence Tucker

Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder, associated with serious cognitive, physical, and psychosocial burdens. Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is the commonest form of focal epilepsy. The aim of this study was to establish the incidence of patients with electroencephalographic epileptiform discharges consistent with mTLE attending a tertiary hospital in South Africa, and determine whether these patients may be candidates for anterior temporal lobectomy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of all patients receiving scalp electroencephalograms (EEG) performed at the Groote Schuur Hospital Neurophysiology laboratory during the period January 1, 2017–December 31, 2019. Where magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans had been performed, these were assessed for corroborative evidence of mTLE. Results: Over the 3-year period, 4 342 EEGs were assessed. A total of 411 (11%) showed epileptiform discharges consistent with all epilepsy types. Of these, 327 (69%) were of focal onset and 108 (33% of all focal onset epilepsies) were consistent with mTLE. Of the patients with electroencephalographic features of mTLE, only 27 (25%) had had MRI brain scans performed according to an epilepsy surgery protocol. None of these patients had been considered for surgery. Conclusion: Surgery, especially anterior temporal lobectomy, is widely acknowledged to be an efficacious and cost-effective intervention in patients with drug-resistant mTLE. The findings of our study suggest that patients with mTLE in our setting are under-investigated for potential surgery; and that it is under-utilized. These findings are in line with similar studies in both well-resourced and resource-constrained countries. Our study also highlights the utility of EEG as a practical screening tool to identify potential surgical candidates, as well as the establishment of an EEG and MRI database to assist in recognizing these patients.


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