Endoscopy-Assisted Interhemispheric Transcallosal Hemispherotomy

Endoscopy-Assisted Interhemispheric Transcallosal Hemispherotomy

Neurosurgery 76:485–495, 2015

Various hemispherotomy techniques have been developed to reduce complication rates and achieve the best possible seizure control.

OBJECTIVE: To present a novel and minimally invasive endoscopy-assisted approach to perform this procedure.

METHODS: Endoscopy-assisted interhemispheric transcallosal hemispherotomy was performed in 5 children (April 2013-June 2014). The procedure consisted of performing a small craniotomy (4 · 3 cm) just lateral to midline using a transverse skin incision. After dural opening, the surgery was performed with the assistance of a rigid high-definition endoscope, and bayoneted self-irrigating bipolar forceps and other standard endoscopic instruments. Steps included a complete corpus callosotomy followed by the disconnection of the hemisphere at the level of the basal nuclei and thalamus. The surgeries were performed in a dedicated operating room with intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging and neuronavigation. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a total disconnection.

RESULTS: The pathologies for which surgeries were performed included sequelae of middle a cerebral artery infarct (n = 2), Rasmussen syndrome (n = 1), and hemimegalencephaly (2). Four patients had an Engel class I and 1 patient had a class II outcome at a mean follow-up of 10.2 months (range, 3-14 months). The mean blood loss was 80mL, and mean operating time was 220 minutes. There were no complications in this study.

CONCLUSION: This study describes a pilot novel technique and the feasibility of performing a minimally invasive, endoscopy-assisted hemispherotomy.

Reoperation for Refractory Epilepsy in Childhood: A Second Chance for Selected Patients

FCD

Neurosurgery 73:695–704, 2013

Reoperations account for 10% in pediatric epilepsy surgery cohorts, and they are especially relevant in young children with catastrophic epilepsy. OBJECTIVE: To determine surgical outcomes and their predictive factors in reoperations for refractory epilepsy in childhood.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed presurgical findings, resections, and outcomes of 23 consecutive children who underwent reoperations from 2000 to 2011.

RESULTS: Etiology included cortical dysplasia with/without glioneuronal tumor in 19 patients (83%), sole glioneuronal tumor in 2, and tuberous sclerosis and Rasmussen encephalitis in 1 each. The reasons for the failure of the initial surgery were functional considerations in 8 (35%), incorrect delineation of the epileptogenic zone in 8 (35%), and resection not performed as initially planned in 7 (30%) cases. Final procedures included 8 (35%) intralobar, 8 (35%) multilobar resections, and 7 (30%) hemispherotomies. Following reoperations, 14 (61%) patients were seizure free, 6 (26%) showed significant or worthwhile improvement, and 3 (13%) did not respond to surgery. Six of 8 patients who underwent the first resection before the age of 3 years, 6 of 8 whose first resection was limited by functional considerations, and all 7 with hemispherotomy as the final resection achieved seizure freedom after reoperation.

CONCLUSION: Reoperation is particularly beneficial for selected children with refractory epilepsy associated with cortical dysplasia that did not respond to an initial limited and/or early resection but achieved seizure freedom after extensive procedures. When indicated, reoperation should be performed at the youngest possible age to profit from higher functional plasticity in compensating for neurological deficit.