[Neurophysiological aspects of multiple hippocampal transection in intractable temporal lobe epilepsy]. / Neirofiziologicheskie aspekty mnozhestvennoi transsektsii gippokampa pri visochnoi epilepsii.

OBJECTIVE: To search for correlations between intraoperative electrocorticographic data and seizure control after the multiple hippocampal transections (MHT) in patients with symptomatic pharmacoresistant medial temporal lobe epilepsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six patients underwent MHT nearby the hippocampus. The left dominant hemisphere was affected in all cases. Patients had normal memory function. Follow up was 18 to 24 months. Scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocorticography (ECoG) were intaoperatively recorded. Transections of the hippocampus were performed until ECoG epileptiform discharges stopped. RESULTS: Seizure control was achieved in five patients. Synchronous epileptiform activity disappeared in the hippocampus in all patients after MHT. Complete disappearance of epileptiform activity in the hippocampus and basal cortex was demonstrated in 2 cases. The epileptiform activity remained in the basal cortex in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Using the method of hippocampal transections it was possible to achieve the disappearance of synchronous epileptic activity in the hippocampus in all patients. It is correlated with good outcome in 5 out of 6 cases. Preservation and even arising of spiking in the basal temporal cortex are not a risk factor for maintaining seizures after complete resection of the epileptogenic substrate in the temporal lobe and hippocampal transections. A decrease in the background epileptiform activity on the scalp EEG was observed in 4 of 5 cases after the resection of the pathological substrate, uncus and amygdala.

[Surgical treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy following hippocampal sclerosis]. / Khirurgicheskoe lechenie farmakorezistentnoi epilepsii pri skleroze gippokampa.

Surgery is an effective approach for drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy following hippocampal sclerosis. There is still no clear and unanimous opinion about advantages and disadvantages of certain surgical technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 103 surgical interventions in 101 patients. Females prevailed (1.45:1). Age of patients ranged from 16 to 56 years (median 28). Anteromedial temporal lobectomy and selective amygdaloghippocampectomy were performed in 49 (47.6%) and 54 (52.4%) patients, respectively. In the latter group, 30 patients were operated via a 14-mm burr hole-subtemporal approach. Postoperative outcomes were assessed using the Engel grading system. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 8 years (median 4 years). RESULTS: By the 2nd year, Engel class I was observed in 74 (72%) patients, Engel II, III and IV - in 20 (19.4%), 6 (5.8%) and 3 (2.9%) patients, respectively. Engel class I was achieved after anteromedial temporal lobectomy in 68% of cases, selective amygdaloghippocampectomy via standard approaches in 75% of cases, amygdaloghippocampectomy via subtemporal burr hole approach - in 80% of cases. Neurocognitive impairments after anteromedial lobectomy and selective amygdaloghippocampectomy were similar. At the same time, mental disorders de novo prevailed in the group of anteromedial lobectomy (p<0.05). There were no severe visual field disorders after subtemporal burr-hole access. In other cases, these disorders occurred in 36.2% of patients (p<0.05). There were 8 (7.8%) postoperative complications: 5 (10.2%) - after anterior temporal lobectomy, 3 (5.5%) - after selective surgeries via standard approaches. There were no complications after burr-hole surgery. CONCLUSION: Selective amygdaloghippocampectomy is not inferior to anteromedial lobectomy. Moreover, this procedure is associated with a lower risk of complications and adverse events.