Faculty Collaboration Database

Safety of staged epilepsy surgery in children. Neurosurgery 2014 Feb;74(2):154-62

Date

10/24/2013

Pubmed ID

24149978

DOI

10.1227/NEU.0000000000000231

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84893718750 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   17 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection of epileptic foci relies on accurate localization of the epileptogenic zone, often achieved by subdural and depth electrodes. Our epilepsy center has treated selected children with poorly localized medically refractory epilepsy with a staged surgical protocol, with at least 1 phase of invasive monitoring for localization and resection of epileptic foci.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of staged surgical treatments for refractory epilepsy among children.

METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected, including surgical details and complications of all patients who underwent invasive monitoring.

RESULTS: A total of 161 children underwent 200 admissions including staged procedures (>1 surgery during 1 hospital admission), and 496 total surgeries. Average age at surgery was 7 years (range, 8 months to 16.5 years). A total of 250 surgeries included resections (and invasive monitoring), and 189 involved electrode placement only. The cumulative total number of surgeries per patient ranged from 2 to 10 (average, 3). The average duration of monitoring was 10 days (range, 1-30). There were no deaths. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 10 years. Major complications included unexpected new permanent mild neurological deficits (2%/admission), central nervous system or bone flap infections (1.5%/admission), intracranial hemorrhage, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and a retained strip (each 0.5%/admission). Minor complications included bone absorption (5%/admission), positive surveillance sub-/epidural cultures in asymptomatic patients (5.5%/admission), noninfectious fever (5%/admission), and wound complications (3%/admission). Thirty complications necessitated additional surgical treatment.

CONCLUSION: Staged epilepsy surgery with invasive electrode monitoring is safe in children with poorly localized medically refractory epilepsy. The rate of major complications is low and appears comparable to that associated with other elective neurosurgical procedures.

Author List

Roth J, Carlson C, Devinsky O, Harter DH, Macallister WS, Weiner HL

Author

Chad Carlson MD Interim Chair, Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Electrodes, Implanted
Electroencephalography
Epilepsies, Partial
Epilepsy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Neurophysiological Monitoring
Neurosurgical Procedures
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors