Interference of New Antiseizure Agents with Hospital Transfer of Stroke Patients in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Patients in Japan often have difficulty in screening and selecting chronic-care and rehabilitation hospitals for transfer because of the high cost and unavailability of new antiseizure medications, such as perampanel and lacosamide. To investigate whether the requirement for perampanel and lacosamide interfered with patients' hospital transfer by comparing the number of days required for hospital transfer. Data were obtained from patients 1) who were diagnosed with intracerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction, 2) who were treated with antiseizure medications for epilepsy, and 3) who were transferred to another hospital. The main outcome measures were the length of hospital stay and days from the last seizure to hospital transfer.Ninety-four eligible patients were divided into those treated with perampanel or lacosamide (n = 18) and those treated with other agents (n = 76). The mean length of hospital stay and days from the last seizure to hospital transfer were 52.9 and 45.4 d in the perampanel and lacosamide group, and 32.7 and 28.6 d in the other medication group (p < 0.001). The mean antiseizure medication costs and total drug costs were U.S. $4.88 and $6.85 in the perampanel/lacosamide group and U.S. $1.94 and $4.41 in the other medication group (p < 0.001, p = 0.007), respectively. Considering antiseizure medication availability and cost in the transfer destination hospital is important when choosing medications for patients requiring hospital transfer from an acute-care hospital.

Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus Associated with Cerebral Hyperperfusion Syndrome after Carotid Endarterectomy: A Case Report.

We report a case of a 73-year-old man who developed nonconvulsive status epilepticus as a complication of cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome after carotid endarterectomy for carotid artery stenosis. On postoperative day 1, the patient experienced headaches and vomiting. Resting N-isopropyl-p-[123I] iodoamphetamine single-photon emission computed tomography showed increased cerebral blood flow to the entire right hemisphere, and the patient was diagnosed with cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome. He was treated with antihypertensive and antiseizure medications, sedated using propofol, intubated, and placed under mechanical ventilation. On postoperative day 3, computed tomography perfusion imaging showed a reduction in hyperperfusion, and propofol sedation was terminated on postoperative day 4. However, the patient exhibited prolonged impaired awareness and roving eye movements, and long-term video electroencephalographic monitoring revealed electrographic seizures. The patient was diagnosed with nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Propofol sedation was resumed, and the antiseizure medication dose was increased. Subsequently, the state of hyperperfusion in the right hemisphere diminished, and electroencephalographic findings improved, allowing sedation to be terminated on postoperative day 7. The findings from this case suggest that when clinical subtle symptoms, such as impaired awareness and roving eye movements, are observed during treatment of cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome, video electroencephalography should be performed to detect electrographic seizures.

A Case of Acquired Factor XIII Deficiency with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Diagnosed after Repeated Intracerebral Hemorrhages.

We present a case of autoimmune-acquired factor XIII deficiency associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, which was diagnosed as a cause of repeated intracerebral hemorrhage. An intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in a 24-year-old female patient. Craniotomy was performed to remove the hematoma, but rebleeding occurred at the same site on days 2 and 11, respectively. Detailed blood tests revealed that factor XIII activity decreased. Although autoimmune-acquired factor XIII deficiency is a very rare disease, it can sometimes be fatal when intracerebral hemorrhage occurs. If there is repeated intracerebral hemorrhage, factor XIII activity should be confirmed.

Efficacy of hippocampal transection for left temporal lobe epilepsy without hippocampal atrophy.

We describe a case of left temporal lobe epilepsy without hippocampal atrophy. A 31-year-old woman presented with typical symptoms of complex partial seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated slightly obscure internal structures in the left hippocampus. Scalp electroencephalography revealed interictal epileptiform discharges in the left temporal lobe. A Wada test with propofol determined the language-dominant hemisphere to be the left. Intraoperative electrocorticography revealed active epileptic discharges in the hippocampus and the anterior temporal basal area. The hippocampal epileptic area was treated with multiple transection, which led to the complete cessation of epileptic discharges. After surgery, the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test score decreased from 12 to 9. However, it returned to the preoperative level 6months after surgery. We describe this case as a typical example demonstrating the efficacy of hippocampal transection for seizure control and the preservation of verbal memory.

Psychiatric disorders of the combination of levetiracetam either with lacosamide or perampanel: a retrospective cohort study.

Background The number of patients with epilepsy receiving perampanel or lacosamide as an add-on treatment following levetiracetam treatment has increased. Although levetiracetam causes psychiatric disorders, it is unclear whether they occur with the combined use of these antiepileptic drugs. Objective To determine the frequency of psychiatric disorders in patients received lacosamide or perampanel in combination with levetiracetam. Setting A single-center retrospective cohort study. Method Patients who received levetiracetam + lacosamide or levetiracetam + perampanel were selected. Medical records from the start of combination therapy contained characteristics of patients and the incidence of psychiatric disorders. Main outcome measure The frequency of psychiatric disorders, the time to onset, dose reduction or discontinuation following psychiatric disorders, and the clinical course following disorder onset. Results Forty-four patients used levetiracetam + lacosamide and 50 used levetiracetam + perampanel. The incidence of psychiatric disorders was significantly lower (p < 0.001) with levetiracetam + lacosamide (6.8%) than with levetiracetam + perampanel (44%). The incidence of affect lability was significantly higher with levetiracetam + perampanel than with levetiracetam + lacosamide (p = 0.018). The time to the onset of psychiatric disorders was within 1 month of dose initiation or increase in one case (33.3%) with levetiracetam + lacosamide and 16 cases (72.7%) with levetiracetam + perampanel. There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics and antiepileptic drug dosages owing to the presence or absence of psychiatric disorders. Conclusion As the frequency of psychiatric disorders was higher with levetiracetam + perampanel therapy, levetiracetam + lacosamide may be preferable. These disorders tended to develop within 1 month of therapy and were not dose-dependent. Antiepileptic drugs should be cautiously prescribed to avoid psychiatric disorders.

Nonocclusive Mesenteric Ischemia Is a Potentially Lethal Complication Just after Stroke Onset: Report of Six Case Studies.

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a rare but life-threatening post-stroke complication. This is the first case series report of NOMI after stroke, describing its characteristics and the difficulty of diagnosis. We retrospectively reviewed 367 stroke patients from April 2018 to May 2019 in our hospital. We identified six patients (1.6%) with NOMI after stroke and described their clinical presentation, including characteristics, vital signs, laboratory parameters, treatment, and outcomes. The mean interval between stroke onset and diagnosis of NOMI was 4.6 days (range, 3-10 days). Five patients had disturbance of consciousness caused by stroke, and therefore the major complaints and symptoms associated with NOMI were nonspecific, possibly resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. All patients had a high respiratory rate (≥22 breaths/min). C-reactive protein and lactate levels were high (mean, 21.6 mg/L and 2.4 mmol/L, respectively). All patients underwent emergent abdominal operations. Four patients were discharged with modified Rankin Scale scores ≥4, and two patients died. NOMI can be a fatal post-stroke complication and is challenging to diagnose. Further investigations should be conducted to determine the most efficient way to diagnose NOMI after stroke.

Long-term follow-up of seizure outcomes after corpus callosotomy.

PURPOSE: Corpus callosotomy can be an effective surgical treatment for medically intractable generalized seizures, particularly for drop attacks. We studied long-term seizure outcomes after callosotomy, mainly focusing on drop attacks as the seizure type. METHODS: This study reviews 78 patients who underwent callosotomy and were followed up for more than 3 years after surgery. Seizure outcome of callosotomy was analyzed for seizure type, including drop attacks and other types of seizures. RESULTS: The followed-up time ranged from 3 to 13 years (mean; 7.0+/-2.9 years, median; 8 years). When callosotomy was total section, drop attack seizure-free rate was 90%. However, partial section yielded a drop seizure-free rate of only 54%. Thirty-five of the 46 (76%) patients who were free of drop attacks 6 years after callosotomy had no relapse thereafter. Relapse of drop attacks was also significantly different depending on the range of callosotomy. With total section, only 7% showed relapse of drop attacks. On the contrary, patients with partial section had a 31% relapse rate. In 21% patients, postural seizures newly developed after callosotomy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirmed that callosotomy is the treatment of choice for disabling generalized seizures, especially for drop attacks. Total section is far more effective than partial section in terms of control of drop attacks and prevention of seizure relapse. However, new types of seizure could occur after callosotomy. When newly developed postural seizures were very severe, patients may fall due to sudden torsion of body, but the entire process of falling was not as sudden as that observed during previous drop attacks.

Efficacy of intraoperative electrocorticography for assessing seizure outcomes in intractable epilepsy patients with temporal-lobe-mass lesions.

PURPOSE: The findings of previous studies have been controversial regarding the optimal surgical procedures required for effective seizure control. In particular, there are varying views as to whether or not lesionectomy of a temporal-lobe-mass lesion is a satisfactory process or whether removal of additional seizure foci is necessary. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of additional removal of electrically positive foci using intraoperative electrocorticography on mass lesions related to temporal lobe epilepsy. METHODS: Thirty-five medically intractable epilepsy patients with temporal-lobe benign mass lesions, who had been surgically treated, were assessed. The relationship between resection of the epilepsy focus using intraoperative electrocorticography and seizure outcome was analyzed. In addition, the sites of residual spikes after lesion removal were evaluated. RESULTS: In this study, the benign mass lesions consisted of 21 gangliogliomas, 8 cavernous angiomas and 6 dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors. The number of 3-year postoperative seizure-free incidences for the group that underwent lesionectomy plus additional spike-positive site resection equated to 90.9%. In contrast, in the group that underwent a lesionectomy only, 76.9% were seizure-free for 3-years postoperatively. After complete removal of mass lesions, 86.4% of the residual spikes were detected over the hippocampus. CONCLUSION: Even after the complete removal of temporal-lobe-mass lesions, a high frequency of residual spikes was obtained from the hippocampus. Effective surgical seizure control was achieved by carrying out additional procedures on the affected hippocampus. To detect seizure foci surrounding the lesion, especially over the hippocampus, intraoperative electrocorticogram monitoring was shown to be an effective technique.

Hippocampal transection for treatment of left temporal lobe epilepsy with preservation of verbal memory.

Despite good seizure outcome with temporal lobectomy, postoperative impairment of verbal memory remains unsolved. To address this problem we developed a new method, applying the rationale of multiple subpial transection (MST) to the hippocampus. The inferior ventricle is accessed without disrupting the neuronal pathways related to verbal memory. Intraoperative electrocorticography is recorded over the hippocampus and amygdala. After the extent of the epileptic area is determined, multiple transections of the pyramidal layer under the alveus is performed using specially designed ring transectors. After this procedure, epileptic discharges from the hippocampus can be completely abolished. Of 21 cases undergoing this operation, 12 left-sided and nine right-sided, 17 were followed up for more than one year. Fourteen (82%) are seizure free, two (12%) have rare seizures, and one (6%) has significantly improved. Of eight patients who underwent a battery of neuropsychometric tests both before and after left hippocampal transection, postoperative verbal memory was completely preserved in seven cases, and one transiently worsened patient recovered within 6 months. However, these results are still preliminary as the number of patients is small and the follow-up time short. The accumulation of cases and follow-up of greater duration will be necessary to precisely confirm the efficacy of this new technique.

Temporal lobe epilepsy caused by dermoid cyst.

A 15-year-old boy presented with a dermoid cyst in the left temporal lobe manifesting as complex partial seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a tumor with mixed signal intensity in the left anterior temporal subdural area, but no evidence of rupture. Intraoperatively, the tumor was located mainly in the deep sylvian fissure, adjacent to the amygdala, and had compressed the hippocampus. Intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) showed sporadic interictal spikes in both the adjacent areas of the tumor and over the anterior segment of the hippocampus. Total removal of the tumor and gliotic area of the surrounding tissue including the amygdala was performed. The hippocampal epileptic region was treated by transection of the pyramidal layer to preserve verbal memory function. Histological examination showed the dermoid tumor was closely attached to the brain parenchyma. The complex partial seizures ceased completely after surgery. Intraoperative recording of ECoG from the hippocampus and other limbic structures was very important to determine the epileptogenic area even if the tumor did not directly invade the hippocampus.

[A case of Sturge-Weber syndrome with severe temper tantrum].

We report a case of Sturge-Weber syndrome with intractable epilepsy presenting complex partial seizures(CPSs) and severe temper tantrum successfully treated with anterior temporal lobectomy. A 23-month-old girl without facial angioma presented with seizures from 8 months after birth. Neuroradiological examination demonstrated angioma in the left temporooccipital lobes and calcification in the left occipital lobe. Thus she was diagnosed as having Sturge-Weber syndrome. Her parents sought medical advice because of intractable and more frequent CPSs and a change in temperament manifesting as severe temper tantrums. Interictal electroencephalogram (EEG) showed relatively mild abnormal slow wave discharges in the left temporal region. The patient underwent left anterior temporal lobectomy based on intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) findings. Histopathological examination demonstrated gliotic change in the amygdala. After the surgery, she has remained seizure-free for 14 months while taking anticonvulsants and temper tantrums ultimately showed remission 10 months following surgery. This case may indicate that severe temper tantrum was associated with a change in amygdala structures.

Rapid De Novo Aneurysm Formation after Rathke Cleft Cyst Rupture.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous rupture of a Rathke cleft cyst is very rare, and rapid de novo aneurysm formation associated with pituitary apoplexy is rare. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 66-year-old woman experienced severe left temporal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a Rathke cleft cyst, and transsphenoidal surgery was planned. However, the patient suddenly developed severe headache, vomiting, visual disturbance, and a lowered level of consciousness about 3 weeks after the first onset. The clinical course and neuroradiologic characteristics suggested Rathke cleft cyst rupture. The patient received hormone replacement, and the visual abnormalities resolved. However, subsequent neuroradiologic evaluation demonstrated that a de novo aneurysm in the cavernous sinus portion of the internal carotid artery had formed within 8 days after rupture of the Rathke cleft cyst. This de novo aneurysm was not apparent on initial magnetic resonance angiography. CONCLUSIONS: This case features a rare clinical presentation of rapid de novo aneurysm formation after Rathke cleft cyst rupture. The severe inflammation around the vasculature after rupture of the Rathke cleft cyst might have been involved in aneurysm formation.

Impulse response function based on multivariate AR model can differentiate focal hemisphere in temporal lobe epilepsy.

The purpose of this study is to propose and investigate a new approach for discriminating between focal and non-focal hemispheres in intractable temporal lobe epilepsy, based on applying multivariate time series analysis to the discharge-free background brain activity observed in nocturnal electrocorticogram (ECoG) time series. Five unilateral focal patients and one bilateral focal patient were studied. In order to detect the location of epileptic foci, linear multivariate autoregressive (MAR) models were fitted to the ECoG data; as a new approach for the purpose of summarizing these models in a single relevant parameter, the behavior of the corresponding impulse response functions was studied and described by an attenuation coefficient. In the majority of unilateral focal patients, the averaged attenuation coefficient was found to be almost always significantly larger in the focal hemisphere, as compared to the non-focal hemisphere. Also the amplitude of the fluctuations of the attenuation coefficient was significantly larger in the focal hemisphere. Moreover, in one patient showing a typical regular sleep cycle, the attenuation coefficient in the focal hemisphere tended to be larger during REM sleep and smaller during Non-REM sleep. In the bilateral focal patient, no statistically significant distinction between the hemispheres was found. This study provides encouraging results for new investigations of brain dynamics by multivariate parametric modeling. It opens up the possibility of relating diseases like epilepsy to the properties of inconspicuous background brain dynamics, without the need to record and analyze epileptic seizures or other evidently pathological waveforms.

[Surgical treatment for temporal lobe epilepsy with preservation of postoperative memory function].

Temporal lobe epilepsy is frequently drug-resistant in adult epilepsy. However, its surgical treatment is very effective and about 70% of operated patients become seizure-free. As preoperative evaluation, analysis of seizure characteristics, scalp EEG with sphenoidal lead, and neuroimaging are most important. When these noninvasive examinations are concordant in focus localization, surgical treatment without prolonged recording by intracranial electrodes become feasible. In spite of good seizure outcome after temporal lobectomy, postoperative impairment of verbal memory has remained to be a long-standing problem. To cope with this ominous complication, we developed a new surgical method of hippocampal transection, based on the principle of multiple subpial transection (MST). Placing a small corticotomy on the anterior part of superior temporal gyrus, the inferior ventricle is opened through suctioning the temporal stem. Intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) is recorded over the hippocampus. After the extent of the epileptic area is determined, the alveus is cut with microscissors and the pyramidal layer is transected in parallel with neuronal fibers by a specially designed ring transector. With this procedure, epileptic discharges from the hippocampus can be completely abolished. In all 7 cases undergoing left hippocampal transection, postoperative verbal memory was preserved with excellent seizure outcome.