Effect of vagus nerve stimulation in post-traumatic epilepsy and failed epilepsy surgery : preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been used in epilepsy patients refractory to standard medical treatments and unsuitable candidates for resective or disconnective surgery. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of VNS to patients who had refractory result to epilepsy surgery and patients with post-traumatic epilepsy. METHODS: We analyzed the effect of VNS in 11 patients who had undergone previous epilepsy surgery and patients with intractable post-traumatic epilepsy associated with brain injury. All patients underwent VNS implantation between October 2005 and December 2006. RESULTS: We evaluated seizure frequency before and after implantation of VNS and maximum follow up period was 24 months. In the first 6 months, 11 patients showed an average of 74.3% seizure reduction. After 12 months, 10 patients showed 85.2% seizure reduction. Eighteen months after implantation, 9 patients showed 92.4% seizure reduction and 7 patients showed 97.2% seizure reduction after 24 months. Six patients were seizure-free at this time. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the VNS is a helpful treatment modality in patients with surgically refractory epilepsy and in patients with post-traumatic epilepsy due to severe brain injury.

Combined surgical approach with intraoperative endovascular embolization for inaccessible dural arteriovenous fistulas.

BACKGROUND: We describe an alternative treatment modality for inaccessible intracranial DAVFs caused by local thrombosis or tortuous feeder vessels. Special consideration is given to the efficacy of intraoperative endovascular embolization and to the use of various operative routes depending on the location of the lesions. METHODS: Between August 1999 and January 2006, 7 of 65 patients were diagnosed with DAVFs with the limitation of endovascular access. Thus, we adopted a combined surgical approach with intraoperative endovascular embolization. We reviewed and analyzed the patients' medical records and their outcomes. RESULTS: Depending on tumor location, a surgical approach combined with simultaneous intraoperative endovascular embolization was successfully performed via the SOV, the TS-SS junction, and the SSS. No complication related to the treatment was reported, and, subsequently, all the patients recovered completely. CONCLUSION: A combined surgical approach with simultaneous intraoperative embolization is an effective and safe treatment for DAVFs that are of limited angiographic access.

Gamma knife radiosurgery for epilepsy related to dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor.

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) is a well-known epileptogenic lesion with favorable seizure outcome after surgical resection. However, sometimes surgery may be difficult technically, and epilepsy may continue throughout the patient's lifetime despite surgical intervention. We report a case of intractable epilepsy related to DNT that was treated with gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS). The frequency of seizure was reduced remarkably after GKRS, and finally a seizure-free state was accomplished in two years. Neuropsychological tests also showed improvement. It is suggested that GKRS may be an effective and less invasive alternative treatment for the patients in whom surgical treatment is difficult.