An 18-year follow-up of seizure outcome after surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the very long-term clinical outcome of surgery for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and unilateral hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE/HS) without atypical features. The impact of surgical technique and postoperative reduction of medication on this outcome was investigated. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal cohort follow-up study for up to18 years. SETTING: Epilepsy surgery centre in a university hospital. PATIENTS: 108 patients who underwent unilateral MTLE/HS. INTERVENTION: Surgery for MTLE/HS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Engel classification (I). Clinical evaluations were based on systematic interviews in person or by phone. Kaplan-Maier survival curves estimated the probability of remaining seizure free. The impact of medication management in the postoperative outcome was analysed using Cox regression. RESULTS: The probability of remaining completely seizure-free at 12 and 18 years after MTLE/HS surgery was 65% and 62%, respectively. The risk of having any recurrence was 22% during the first 24 months and increased 1.4% per year afterwards. Type of surgical technique (selective amygdalohippocampectomy vs anterior temporal lobectomy) did not impact on outcome. Remaining on antiepileptic drugs and history of generalised clonic seizure diminished the probability of remaining seizure free. CONCLUSIONS: MTLE/HS surgery is able to keep patients seizure free for almost up to two decades. Removal of the neocortex besides the mesial portion of the temporal lobe does not lead to better chances of seizure control. These findings are applicable to the typical unilateral MTLE/HS syndrome and cannot be generalised for all types of TLE. Future longitudinal randomised controlled studies are needed to replicate these findings.

O papel do neurocirurgião no incremento da qualidade de vida em pacientes idosos: hidrocefalia de pressão normal e estreito lobar / The paper of the neurosurgeon in the increment of the quality of life in aged patients: hydrocephalus of normal pressure and lumbar narrow canal

The purpose of the authors is to attempt to two fifferent diseases that usually are misdiagnosed in the generalist medical practice: the lumbar spinal stenosis and the normal pressure lydrocephalus in the elderly. In this article, there is a review of clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of these pathologies, with special attention to differential diagnosis, particular care and appropriate management of this group of patients by the neurosurgeo, intending t offer definitive resolution.

[Hippocampal microsurgical anatomy regarding the selective amygdalohippocampectomy in the Niemeyer's technique perspective and preoperative method to maximize the corticotomy]. / Anatomia microcirúrgica do hipocampo na Amígdalo-hipocampectomia seletiva sob a perspectiva da técnica de Niemeyer e método pré-operatório para maximizar a corticotomia.

UNLABELLED: The deep knowledge of hippocampal microsurgical anatomy is paramount in epilepsy surgery. One of the most used techniques is those proposed by Niemeyer. PURPOSE: To describe the hippocampal anatomy in detail and to present a technique in which preoperative anatomical points in MRI are identified to guide the corticotomy. METHOD: Microsurgical dissections were performed in twenty brain hemispheres and eight cadaveric heads to identify temporal lobe and hippocampus structures. Thirty two patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy underwent a selective amygdalohippocampectomy with Niemeyer's technique being measured three preoperative MRI preoperative distances to guide the corticotomy. RESULTS: The hippocampus was divided in head, body and tail and its microsurgical anatomy described in detail. The MRI measurements are presented and discussed. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of the complex anatomy of the hippocampus can be achieved in a three-dimensional way during microsurgical dissections. The preoperative MRI measurement is a reasonable guide to perform temporal corticotomy in Niemeyer's technique.

Anatomia microcirúrgica do hipocampo na Amígdalo-hipocampectomia seletiva sob a perspectiva da técnica de Niemeyer e método pré-operatório para maximizar a corticotomia / Hippocampal microsurgical anatomy regarding the selective amygdalohippocampectomy in the Niemeyer’s technique perspective and preoperative method to maximize the corticotomy

O conhecimento da anatomia microcirúrgica do hipocampo tem importância fundamental na cirurgia da epilepsia do lobo temporal. Uma das técnicas mais utilizadas na cirurgia da epilepsia é a técnica de Niemeyer. OBJETIVO: Descrever em detalhes a anatomia do hipocampo e mostrar uma técnica na qual pontos de referências anatômicos pré-operatórios visualizados na RNM são usados para guiar a corticotomia. MÉTODO: Foram utilizados 20 hemisférios cerebrais e 8 cadáveres para dissecções anatômicas microcirúrgicas do lobo temporal e hipocampo para identificação e descrição das principais estruturas do hipocampo. Foram estudados prospectivamente 32 pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal refratários ao tratamento clínico submetidos a amígdalo-hipocampectomia seletiva pela técnica de Niemeyer três parâmetros anatômicos foram mensurados na RNM pré operatória e transferidos para o ato cirúrgico. RESULTADOS: O hipocampo foi dividido em cabeça, corpo e cauda e sua anatomia microcirúrgica descrita em detalhes. As medidas adquiridas são apresentadas e discutidas. CONCLUSÃO: A complexa anatomia do hipocampo pode ser entendida de uma forma tridimensional durante dissecções microcirúrgicas. As medidas pré-operatórias mostraram-se guias anatômicos úteis para corticotomia na técnica de Niemeyer.

The deep knowledge of hippocampal microsurgical anatomy is paramount in epilepsy surgery. One of the most used techniques is those proposed by Niemeyer. PURPOSE: To describe the hippocampal anatomy in details and to present a technique which preoperative anatomical points in MRI are identified to guide the corticotomy. METHOD: Microsurgical dissections were performed in twenty brain hemispheres and eight cadaveric heads to identify temporal lobe and hippocampus structures. Thirty two patients with drug-resistent temporal lobe epilepsy underwent a selective amygdalohippocampectomy with Niemeyer’s technique being measured three preoperative MRI preoperative distances to guide the corticotomy. RESULTS: The hippocampus was divided in head, body and tail and its microsurgical anatomy described in details. The MRI measurements are presented and discussed. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of the complex anatomy of the hippocampus can be achieved in a three-dimensional way during microsurgical dissections not. The preoperative MRI measurement is a reasonable guide to perform temporal corticotomy in Niemeyer’s techinique.

Pre- and post-operative Wisconsin card sorting test performance in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampal sclerosis.

Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampal sclerosis (TLE/HS) have a distinct neuropsychological profile, but there is still debate on whether executive dysfunction is part of this profile and also whether temporal lobe surgery can modify this dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: To study the presence and reversibility of executive dysfunction in patients with unilateral TLE/HS. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with refractory seizures due to TLE/HS underwent presurgical evaluation which included the application of the Wiconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Nineteen were re-evaluated in follow up, at least 6 months after selective amygdalo-hippocampectomy (SAH). Twenty-two control subjects matched for age and education also performed the WCST. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 25 patients (64%) completed fewer than four categories in the WCST whereas only 4 of the 22 controls (18%) did not complete at least four categories (p<0.005). In addition, the performance of the patients involved significantly more perseverative responses and errors compared to controls. The patient group demonstrated significant post-operative improvement in many measures of the WCST following SAH. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the presence of executive dysfunction in patients with TLE/HS and suggest that such dysfunction can be partially reversed by selective resection of epileptogenic mesial temporal structures.

Pacientes com epilepsia de lobo temporal associada à esclerose hipocampal (ELT/EH) têm um perfil neuropsicológico em sua maior parte bem reconhecido, embora discuta-se se manifestações de disfunção executiva acompanham este perfil e se esta disfunção poderia ser modificada por cirurgia da epilepsia de lobo temporal. OBJETIVO: Estudar a presença e reversibilidade da disfunção executiva em pacientes com ELT/EH unilateral. MÉTODOS: Vinte e cinco pacientes com crises refratárias associadas à ELT/EH foram submetidos à avaliação pré-cirúrgica que incluiu a aplicação do Teste de Seleção de Cartas de Wisconsin (TSCW). Dezenove foram reavaliados um mínimo de 6 meses após amígdalo-hipocampectomia seletiva (AHS). O TSCW foi também aplicado a 22 indivíduos controles pareados por idade e nível educacional. RESULTADOS: Dezesseis dos 25 pacientes (64%) completaram menos de quatro categorias no TSCW, enquanto que apenas 4 dos 22 indivíduos do grupo controle (18%) tiveram este mesmo nível e disfunção (p<0.005). Além disto, a performance dos pacientes aresentava significativamente mais respostas e erros perseverativos do que os controles. Analisados como um grupo, os pacientes apresentaram melhoras significativas em várias medidas do TSCW após AHS. CONCLUSÃO: Estes achados apontam para a presença de disfunção executiva em pacientes com ELT/EH e sugerem que esta disfunção pode ser parcialmente revertida pela ressecção seletiva das estruturas temporais mesiais epileptogênicos.

Meningeomas: breve revisão para orientação do médico generalista / Meningiomas: soon revision for orientation of the generalist doctor

Os autores pretendem fazer uma breve revisão sobre meningeomas, enfocando aspectos histopatológicos, clínicos, diagnósticos e cirúrgicos para orientação do médico generalista.

Seizure and memory outcome following temporal lobe surgery: selective compared with nonselective approaches for hippocampal sclerosis.

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to compare seizure and memory outcome in patients with medically refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE/HS) treated using an anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) or a selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SA). METHODS: Surgical outcome data were prospectively collected for 2 to 11 years in 161 consecutive patients with MTLE/ HS. Eighty patients underwent an ATL and 81 an SA. Seizure control achieved with each technique was compared using the Engel classification scheme. Postoperative memory testing was performed in 86 patients (53%). At the last follow up, 72% of the patients who had undergone an ATL (mean follow up 6.7 years) and 71% of those who had undergone an SA (mean follow up 4.5 years) were seizure free (Engle Class IA). Estimated survival in patients in Engel Classes I, IA, and I and II combined did not differ between the two surgical techniques. Preoperatively, 58% of the patients had verbal memory scores one standard deviation (SD) below the normal mean. One third of the patients with preoperative scores in the normal range worsened after surgery, although this outcome was not related to the surgical technique. In contrast, one third of those whose preoperative scores were less than -1 SD experienced improvement after surgery. Nine (18%) of the 50 patients whose left side had been surgically treated improved their verbal memory scores by more than one SD. Seven (78%) of these nine underwent an SA (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both ATL and SA can lead to similar favorable seizure control in patients with MTLE/HS. Preliminary data suggest that postoperative verbal memory scores may improve in patients who undergo selective resection of a sclerotic hippocampus in the dominant temporal lobe.

Estenose do canal lombar / Stenosis of the lumbar canal

Os autores fazem uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a estenose do canal raquídeo lombar com o objetivo de difundir para o médico generalista as principais manifestações clínicas, etiopatogenia, diagnóstico e respectivo tratamento desta patologia tão freqüente na prática médica.

Escore funcional e de dor após cirurgia de hérnia de disco lombar e fisioterapia precoce / Funcional and pain score after lumbar disc surgery snd early physiotherapy

Objetivos: Avaliar o efeito da intervenção fisioterapeutica no escore funcional e de dor dos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de hérnia de disoc lombar (HDL). Métodos: Estudo randomizado, controlado e cego , avaliando pacientes que internaram no hospital São Lucas da PUCRS, no período de outubro de 2003 a maio de 2004, para realizar cirurgia de HDL. Amostra: 20 pacientes, 10 do grupo de intervenção (cirurgia e fisioterapia no pós-operatório). Intervenção fisioterapêutica): alongamento neural do ciático, alongamentos de Williams e uso da estimulação elétrica trascutânea três vezes ao dia, do primeiro dia pós-operatório até a alta hospitalar. Instrumentos para avaliar o escore de dor e de função, respectivamente: escala análogo-visual de dor e Roland Morris Questionnaire. Escores avaliados antes da cirurgia, pós-operatório imediato e dois meses após os procedimentos. Resultados: Houve significância estatística na diferença do escore funcional (P=0,009) e na redução da intensidade da dor (P=0,028) dos pacientes no segundo mês pós-operatório, favorecendo o grupo com intervenção fisioterapêutica

Lesões traumáticas da coluna cervical / Cervical spine traumatic injury

Os autores fazem uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as lesões traumáticas da coluna cervical: sua epidemiologia, classificação, métodos diagnósticos e tratamento

Survival analysis of the surgical outcome of temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampal sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Surgical results in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE/HS) are often reported in conjunction with other etiologies of TLE. METHODS: We prospectively collected surgical outcome data for 2 to 11 years for 134 consecutive patients who specifically had MTLE and unilateral HS, according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and confirmed by histopathology. Sixty-five had postoperative neuropsychological testing. Outcome was analyzed by using Engel's classification (a) through Kaplan-Meier estimated survival curves (as a function of the time to seizure recurrence), (b) as percentage of patients in each outcome class on a yearly basis, and (c) at the last updated follow-up. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier estimates of complete seizure freedom (Engel's class IA) for years 1, 2, 5, and 10 were 85%, 77%, 74%, and 66%, and of Engel's class I were 89%, 86%, 83%, and 81%. Only nine (6.7%) patients had outcome classes III or IV at any point during follow-up. Of the patients tested, 26% of those operated on the left side and 22% of those operated on the right had postoperative decline of >1 SD in verbal or visual memory, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of seizure freedom can be obtained and remain stable over the years in patients operated on for unilateral MTLE/HS, even in countries with limited resources.

Cervicobraquialgia / Neck pain

A dor em região cervical e braços é uma queixa comum. A dor pode ser fruto de alteração em diversas estruturas, por isso, seu diagnóstico diferencial é extenso. Os autores apresentam uma revisão sobre cervicobraquialgia, seu impacto socioeconômico, fatores etiológicos e aspectos importantes a serem observados durante anamnese e exame fisico. O diagnóstico, exames complementares e modalidades terapêuticas também são analisados. Por fim, apresentamos os recentes progressos na área terapêutica e profilática

Instrumentos utilizados para avaliar o estado funcional das pessoas com dor lombar / Instruments used to evaluate the people’s functional state with lumbar pain

O objetivo deste artigo é identificar os instrumentos que avaliam a funcionalidade de pessoas com dor lombar, verificar as mais utilizadas nesta área da saúde e o seu auxílio ao diagnóstico e manejo da lombalgia e lombociatalgia. O presente artigo é uma revisão bibliográfica não sistemática sobre a dor lombar e escalas de avaliação da funcionalidade. Muitas escalas estão sendo utilizadas para avaliar as alterações funcionais de pacientes com dor lombar, sendo que as mais utilizadas são as escalas de Roland Morris e de Oswestry. A importância dada ao estudo da dor lombar tem aumentado nos últimos anos, principalmente porque esta algia resulta em incapacidade para o trabalho e impede as pessoas que sofrem com ela de exercer as atividades diárias, conseqüentemente afetando a sua qualidade de vida. A avaliação da funcionalidade é um considerável método diagnóstico e parâmetro na triagem de pacientes com dor lombar para o tratamento conservador ou cirúrgico.

Corpora amylacea in temporal lobe epilepsy associated with hippocampal sclerosis

Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is the commonest pathology in epileptic patients undergoing temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Beside, there are an increased density of corpora amylacea (CA) founded in 6 to 63 percent of those cases. OBJECTIVE: verify the presence of CA and the clinical correlates of their occurrence in a consective series of patients undergoing temporal surgery with diagnosis of HS. METHOD: We reviewed 72 hippocampus specimens from January 1997 to July 2000. Student's t test for independent, samples, ANOVA and Tukey test were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: CA were found in 35 patients (49 percent), whose mean epilepsy duration (28.7 years) was significantly longer than that group of patients without CA (19.5 years, p= 0.001). Besides, when CA were found, duration was also significantly correlated with distribution within hippocampus: 28.7 years with diffuse distribution of CA, 15.4 with exclusively subpial and 17.4 years with distribution subpial plus perivascular (p= 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings corroborate the presence of CA in patients with HS and suggest that a longer duration of epilepsy correlate with a more distribution of CA in hippocampus

Functional variability of the human cortical motor map: electrical stimulation findings in perirolandic epilepsy surgery.

The purpose of this study was to assess the cortical representation of sensorimotor functions in patients undergoing perirolandic epilepsy surgery, focusing on somatotopy, mosaicism, and variability of function in relation to the classic motor homunculus. The authors studied 36 patients in whom intraoperative or extraoperative electrical cortical stimulation to map motor functions was performed. A computer program was devised to register electrode number, stimulation parameters, and response to each stimulus. Electrode position was represented graphically whenever a stimulus was delivered. A total of 43 maps from 36 patients were analyzed. The authors found variations in the organization of M1 (primary motor cortex) in seven patients (19.4%). Four patients (11.1%) presented mosaicism (overlapping of functional areas), two (5.6%) presented variability (inverted disposition of M1 functional areas), and one (2.8%) had both. The results of this study challenge the notion of orderly topographic relationships between the human sensorimotor functions and their representation in the primary motor cortex. These results confirm those of other studies with animals and humans using novel imaging techniques, suggesting that the motor homunculus may not always be considered a definite and absolute representation of M1.

Corpora amylacea in temporal lobe epilepsy associated with hippocampal sclerosis.

UNLABELLED: Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is the commonest pathology in epileptic patients undergoing temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Beside, there are an increased density of corpora amylacea (CA) founded in 6 to 63% of those cases. OBJECTIVE: verify the presence of CA and the clinical correlates of their occurrence in a consecutive series of patients undergoing temporal surgery with diagnosis of HS. METHOD: We reviewed 72 hippocampus specimens from January 1997 to July 2000. Student's t test for independent, samples, ANOVA and Tukey test were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: CA were found in 35 patients (49%), whose mean epilepsy duration (28.7 years) was significantly longer than that group of patients without CA (19.5 years, p=0.001). Besides, when CA were found, duration was also significantly correlated with distribution within hippocampus: 28.7 years with diffuse distribution of CA, 15.4 with exclusively subpial and 17.4 years with distribution subpial plus perivascular (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings corroborate the presence of CA in patients with HS and suggest that a longer duration of epilepsy correlate with a more distribution of CA in hippocampus.

Reversible and irreversible autistic regression related to epilepsy and epileptiform EEG discharges: physiopatogenic considerations and preliminary report of 5 cases

A influência das epilepsias e das descargas epileptiformes no EEG e regressão autística é ainda uma questão em debate e que pode ter um papel relevante na decisão terapêutica e prognóstico. Relato de 5 pacientes com doença do espectro do austismo ou regressão autísitca associada a epilepsia refratária e discutir os prováveis mecanismos fisiopatológicos desta associação. Relato de série de casos de pacientes com síndromes epilépticas diversas evidenciando a relação temporal entre início das crises e alterações da linguagem, comportamento e interação social. Pacientes com diferentes tipos de síndromes epilépticas e etiologia apresentam denominador comum que é a deterioração autística reversível ou irreversível, que pode estar associada tanto ao tipo de epilepsia, as descargas no EEG ou à lesão de base

Neuropatologia das epilepsias de difícil controle: estudo de 300 casos consecutivos / Neuropathology of hard control epilepsy: study of 300 consecutive cases

Fazemos uma análise das alterações neuropatológicas encontradas em 300 casos consecutivos de cirurgia da epilepsia realizadas durante período de 6 anos. O material foi predominantemente de lobo temporal (70,33 por cento), sendo a esclerose hipocampal o diagnóstico mais frequente (44 por cento), seguido das neoplasias (15 por cento) e dos distúrbios da migração neuronal (10 por cento). Os tumores mais frequentes foram o ganglioglioma (42,22 por cento) e tumor neuroepitelial disembrioplástico (20 por cento). Segue revisão dos diagnósticos mais comuns em epilepsia baseados nessa série e relatados na literatura.

Cefaléia sentinela / Headache

A cefaléia que preocupa é aquela singular, diferente das já sentidas pelo paciente. A associação com meningismo ou sintoma neurológico focal de oculoparesia, paralisia de outro nervo craniano, hemiparesia ou perda de consciência exige investigação mais aprofundada, especialmente se o episódio é recente e agudo. Os autores revisam brevemente o assunto da cefaléia associada a problemas vasculares, incluindo aneurismas, malformações arteriovenosas, hemorragia subaracnóidea, dissecção arterial e vasculite, enfatizando que o alto grau de suspeição destas condições tratáveis, mas potencialmente devastadoras, é a chave para um desfecho favorável

Epileptogênese secundária em humanos: epilepsia parcial refratária com atividade epiléptica bitemporal independente, associada a tumor temporal unilateral de crescimento lento / Secondary epileptogenesis in humans: refractory partial epilepsy with bitemporal independente epileptic activity, associated with a slowly growing temporal lobe tumor

O desenvolvimento progressivo de focos epileptógenos independentes em áreas corticais previamente normais, porém sinapticamente conectadas a focos epilépticos crônicos, apresenta claras semelhanças com o fenômeno do kindling e denomina-se epileptogênese secundária. A própria existência de epileptôgenese secundária em humanos, bem como seus determinantes, säo objetos de acalorada discussäo na literatura. Nós relatamos uma paciente com epilepsia parcial refratária, cuja evoluçäo clínica e eletroencefalográfica sugere fortemente a ocorrência de epileptogênese secundária: desenvolvimento sequencial de dois padröes diferentes de crises epilépticas e atividade epiléptica bitemporal independente, estando um dos focos epilépticos associado a um tumor temporal de crescimento lento. As características da epileptogênese secundária e sua existência nesta paciente säo posteriormente discutidos