Demographics, Clinical Profile, Cause and Outcome of Epilepsy in Neurosurgical Unit in Manipal Teaching Hospital in Western Nepal

Background: Epilepsy is a common chronic disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy and almost 80% of people with epilepsy live in low and middle-income countries. Most of these people do not get the necessary treatment they need. The main objective of this study is to study the demographic profile of patients, etiology of epilepsy and prescribing pattern, drug compliance, and its outcome in terms of epilepsy control in patients. Materials and methods: A retrospective analytical study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2018 including 120 consecutive patients admitted with epilepsy with an objective to study various clinico-socio-demographical features of epilepsy and various features associated with outcome. The outcome was categorized into a good outcome group and poor outcome group according to absence or decrease in seizure frequency in 6 months duration in comparison to the pre-treatment status. All the continuous variables were compared in relation to the outcome using the student's t-test and the categorical data were compared using Chi-square and Fischer Exact test. Data analysis was done using SPSS 20.0 software. Results: The mean age of the study population was 37.8 ± 21.1 years (4 months -95 years). Mean hospital stay was 11.97 ± 11.5 days. There were 79 (65.83%) males and 41 (34.17% females in the study. Ninety seven (80.83%) of the patients in our were educated above high school level and literacy level showed statistically significant association with good seizure control (p=0.043). One hundred thirteen patients had Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures and 7 patients had a partial seizure. Levetiracetam (52, 43.3%) was the commonest antiepileptic used in our series, and polytherapy was used in 15 (12.5%) of patients. Intracerebral hemorrhage (39.2%) and Trauma (36.7%) were the commonest cause of epilepsy in our series. Conclusion: Drug compliance played a pivotal role in determining good seizure control vs. poor seizure control. Additionally, the literacy level of the patient determined drug compliance and thus seizure control.

Excessive Seizure Clusters in an Otherwise Well-Controlled Epilepsy as a Possible Hallmark of Untreated Vitamin B6-Responsive Epilepsy due to a Homozygous PLPBP Missense Variant

Recently, mutations in the PLPBP gene were described as a novel cause for vitamin B6-responsive epilepsy. We report the outcome in case of a male adolescent with a novel homozygous missense variant in PLPBP who was never treated with pyridoxine until the age of 16 years. He presented with only mild cognitive impairment and an early-onset, well-controlled epilepsy. In our patient, excessive seizure clusters and anxiety states occurred intermittently, suggesting that the combination might be a hallmark in untreated patients. Thus, mutations in PLPBP should be addressed even in adolescent patients with only mild learning disabilities and relatively good seizure control over the years.

Tailored suprainsular partial hemispherotomy: a new functional disconnection technique for stroke-induced refractory epilepsy

OBJECTIVEHemispherotomy is currently the most frequently performed surgical option for refractory epilepsy associated with large perinatal or childhood ischemic events. Such an approach may lead to good seizure control, but it has inherent functional consequences linked to the disconnection of functional cortices. The authors report on 6 consecutive patients who presented with severe epilepsy associated with hemiplegia due to stroke and who benefitted from a new, stereoelectroencephalography-guided partial disconnection technique.METHODSThe authors developed a new disconnection technique termed “tailored suprainsular partial hemispherotomy” (TSIPH). Disconnection always included premotor and motor cortex with variable anterior and posterior extent.RESULTSAt a mean follow-up of 28 months, there were no deaths and no patient had hydrocephalus. Motor degradation was observed in all patients in the 2 weeks after surgery, but all patients completely recovered. The 6 patients were seizure free (Engel class IA) at the last follow-up. No neuropsychological aggravation was observed.CONCLUSIONSTSIPH appears to be a conservative alternative to classic hemispherotomy, leading to favorable outcome in this series.

D.06 Insular involvement in intractable epilepsy: results of invasive EEG data

Background: Exploration of the insular cortex is now commonly considered in patients with refractory epilepsy requiring invasive EEG investigations. The safety and yield of routine insular exploration is uncertain. Methods: All patients (pediatric and adult) who had invasive EEG (iEEG) with insular depth electrode placement, either through SEEG or open implantation, were reviewed. Ictal insular involvement was characterized as primary, secondary or not involved. Results of insular resections were recorded. Results: A total of 173 patients had iEEG of which 26 included insular electrodes (SEEG-18, Open - 8). No complications of placement were identified. Insular involvement was seen in 20 (76%) patients. Primary ictal involvement was identified in 9 (33 %) patients, while secondary spread was noted in 11 (42 %) patients. Six patients went on to have resections including the insular cortex of which 5 patients achieved good seizure control (Engle class I/II). Conclusions: Insular depth electrode placement is a safe and effective adjunct to invasive EEG investigations. Ictal involvement of the insular cortex was commonly identified in our series leading to inclusion of the insula in cortical resections with good seizure control, which may not have been considered without iEEG evidence.

The periinsular functional hemispherotomy

The surgical treatment of refractory epilepsy has evolved as new innovations have been created. Disconnective procedures such as hemispherectomy have evolved. Presently, hemispherotomy has replaced hemispherectomy to reduce complication rates while maintaining good seizure control. Several disconnective techniques have been described including the Rasmussen, vertical, and lateral approaches. The lateral approach, or periinsular hemispherectomy, was derived from modifications on the functional hemispherectomy and involves removal of the temporal lobe mesial structures, exposure of the atrium via the circular sulcus, internal capsule transection under the central sulcus, intraventricular callosotomy, and frontobasal disconnection. The purpose of this article is to describe and illustrate in detail the anatomy and operative technique for periinsular hemispherotomy, as well as to discuss the nuances and issues involved with this procedure.

Pediatric epileptogenic gangliogliomas: seizure outcome and surgical results

Object Ganglioglioma is the most common neoplasm causing focal epilepsy, accounting for approximately 40% of all epileptogenic tumors and for 1–4% of all pediatric CNS tumors. The optimal surgical treatment for pediatric epileptogenic ganglioglioma has not been fully established. The authors present their experience in the surgical management of these lesions. Methods The authors retrospectively analyzed seizure outcome and surgical results of pediatric patients with ganglioglioma treated with resection. The patients' charts were reviewed for demographic data, clinical presentation, surgical therapy, and follow-up. Results The 30 patients (17 boys, 13 girls) had a history of medically intractable epilepsy. Total resection of tumor was achieved with or without adjacent epileptogenic tissue resection in all patients except 1, who underwent cyst fenestration and biopsy. Intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) was used in 21 patients. If an active spike focus or profound attenuation was observed in adjacent tissues, resection of those tissues was performed in addition to complete tumor resection (lesionectomy). The interval between onset of seizures and surgery ranged from 1 month to 9 years (mean 1.6 years). Patient age at the time of surgery ranged from 9 months to 16.3 years (mean 8.6 years). Twenty-five patients (83.3%) had complex partial seizures and 5 (16.7%) had simple partial seizures. Eighteen tumors (60%) were temporal (14 temporomesial, 4 temporolateral), and 12 (40%) were extratemporal. The mean follow-up period was 3.4 years (range 1 month–8.16 years). In 2 cases (6.7%), tumor recurrence was observed. Outcome was Engel Class I in 27 cases (90.0%; 14 temporomesial, 4 temporolateral, 9 extratemporal) and Engel Class II in 3 (10.0%; all extratemporal). Tumor resection allowed good seizure control, especially in the 18 cases of temporal ganglioglioma (all Engel Class I postoperatively). Eleven patients underwent removal of extratumoral epileptogenic tissue (anterior temporal neocortex resection in 10, anterior temporal neocortex resection with anterior hippocampectomy in 1) in addition to lesionectomy using intraoperative ECoG. Conclusions Lesionectomy with adjacent temporal neocortex resection using intraoperative ECoG provided good seizure control of pediatric temporal ganglioglioma. For extratemporal ganglioglioma, lesionectomy alone can provide fairly good seizure control. Considering the memory function of the hippocampus, lesionectomy with adjacent temporal neocortical resection can be a safe, feasible, and effective treatment option for epileptogenic gangliogliomas in pediatric patients.

Hemispherotomy and other disconnective techniques

The surgical treatment of intractable epilepsy has evolved as new technical innovations have been made. Hemispherotomy techniques have been developed to replace hemispherectomy in order to reduce the complication rates while maintaining good seizure control. Disconnective procedures are based on the interruption of the epileptic network rather than the removal of the epileptogenic zone. They can be applied to hemispheric pathologies, leading to hemispherotomy, but they can also be applied to posterior quadrant epilepsies, or hypothalamic hamartomas. In this paper, the authors review the literature, present an overview of the historical background, and discuss the different techniques along with their outcomes and complications.