13 research outputs found
Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in paediatric Chiari surgery—help or hindrance?
INTRODUCTION: The role of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) during surgery for Chiari I malformation has not been fully elucidated. Questions remain regarding its utility as an adjunct to foramen magnum decompression surgery, specifically, does IONM improve the safety profile of foramen magnum decompression surgery and can IONM parameters help in intraoperative surgical decision-making. This study aimed to describe a single institution experience of IOM during paediatric Chiari I surgery. METHODS: The methodology comprised a retrospective review of prospectively collected electronic neurosurgical departmental operative database. Inclusion criteria were children under 16 years of age who had undergone foramen magnum decompression for Chiari I malformation with IONM. In addition to basic demographic data, details pertaining to presenting features and post-operative outcomes were obtained. These included primary symptoms of Chiari I malformation and indications for surgery. MRI findings, including the presence of syringomyelia on pre-and post-operative imaging, were reviewed. Details of the surgical technique for each patient were recorded. Only patients with either serial brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and/or upper limb somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) recordings were included. Two time points were used for the purposes of analysing IONM data; initial baseline before skin incision and final at the time of skin closure. RESULTS: Thirty-seven children underwent foramen magnum decompression (FMD) with IONM. Mean age was 10.5 years (range 1–16 years) with a male:female ratio 13:24. The commonest clinical features on presentation included headaches (15) and scoliosis (13). Twenty-four patients had evidence of associated syringomyelia (24/37 = 64.9%). A reduction in the SSEP latency was observed in all patients. SSEP amplitude was more variable, with a decrease seen in 18 patients and an increase observed in 12 patients. BAEP recordings decreased in 13 patients and increased in 4 patients. There were no adverse neurological events following surgery; the primary symptom was resolved or improved in all patients at 3-month follow-up. Resolution or improvement in syringomyelia was observed in 19/24 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows that FMD for Chiari malformation (CM) is associated with changes in SSEPs and BAEPs. However, we did not identify a definite link between clinical outcomes and IONM, nor did syrinx outcome correlate with IONM. There may be a role for IONM in CM surgery but more robust data with better-defined parameters are required to further understand the impact of IONM in CM surgery
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Current Surgical Options for Patients with Epilepsy.
Surgery for epilepsy dates back to 1886 and has undergone significant developments. Today it is considered a key treatment modality in patients who are resistant to pharmacological intervention. It improves seizure control, cognition and quality of life. New technologies, advances in surgical technique and progress in scientific research underlie the expansion of surgery in epilepsy treatment. Effectiveness of surgical treatment depends on several factors including the type of epilepsy, the underlying pathology and the localisation of the epileptogenic zone. Timely referral to an experienced epilepsy surgery centre is important to allow the greatest chance of seizure control and to minimise associated morbidity and mortality. Following referral, patients undergo thorough presurgical investigation to evaluate their suitability for surgery. The commonest form of epilepsy treated by surgery is mesial temporal lobe sclerosis and there is Class I evidence for the medium-term efficacy of temporal lobe resection from two randomised control trials. Various other forms of epilepsy are now considered for resective and neuromodulatory surgical intervention due to favourable results. In this article, the authors review the current status of surgical treatment for epilepsy including the presurgical evaluation of patients, surgical techniques and the future directions in epilepsy surgery