Current state of hemispherectomy and callosotomy for pediatric refractory epilepsy in Denmark

Victoria Elizabeth De Knegt, Malene Landbo Børresen, Marianne Knudsen, Katrine Moe Thomsen, Peter Vilhelm Uldall, Anne Vagner Jakobsen, Christina Engel Hoei-Hansen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcomes from hemispherectomy and callosotomy related to the need for anti-seizure medication (ASM), seizure frequency, and cognition.

METHODS: A review of the medical charts of all Danish pediatric patients who underwent hemispherectomy or callosotomy from January 1996 to December 2019 for preoperative and postoperative ASM use, seizure frequency, and cognitive data.

RESULTS: The median age of epilepsy onset was two years (interquartile range (IQR): 0.0-5.3) for the hemispherectomy patients (n = 16) and one year (IQR: 0.6-1.7) for callosotomy patients (n = 5). Median time from onset to final surgery was 3.4 years for hemispherectomy and 10.2 years for callosotomy, while the median follow-up time was 6.9 years and 9.0 years, respectively. Preoperatively, all patients had daily seizures and were treated with ≥ 2 ASM. Hemispherectomy resulted in a reduction in seizure frequency in 87.5 % of patients, with 78.6 % achieving seizure freedom. Furthermore, 81.3 % experienced a reduction in ASM use and 56.3 % stopped all ASM. Median IQ/developmental quotient (IQ/DQ) was low preoperatively (44.0 [IQR: 40.0-55.0]) and remained unchanged postoperatively (IQ change: 0.0 [IQR: -10.0-+4.0]). Callosotomy resulted in a seizure reduction of 86-99 % in four patients, and ASM could be reduced in three patients. Median IQ/DQ was 20.0 preoperatively (IQR: 20.0-30.0) and remained unchanged postoperatively (IQ change: 0.0 [IQR: 0.0]).

CONCLUSION: Hemispherectomy and callosotomy result in a substantial reduction in seizure frequency and ASM use without deterioration of IQ. Extensive epilepsy surgery should be considered early in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)142-148
Number of pages7
JournalBrain and Development
Volume46
Issue number3
Early online date2 Dec 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2024

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2023 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Denmark
  • Drug Resistant Epilepsy/surgery
  • Epilepsy/drug therapy
  • Hemispherectomy/adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seizures/etiology
  • Treatment Outcome

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