Pediatric peri-insular hemispherotomy and functional hemispherectomy for severe medically refractory epilepsy: comparison of two techniques.

PURPOSE: Since it was first described in the 1970s, functional hemispherotomy has been an essential tool in treating disabling, medically refractory epilepsy resulting from diffuse unilateral hemispheric disease. We report our experience with 23 patients who underwent hemispherotomy, both using the functional hemispherotomy (FH) as well as a modified peri-insular hemispherotomy (PIH) technique. We present the surgical technique for the latter, review outcomes following disconnection surgery and discuss the differences between the techniques when it comes to complications and postoperative results. METHODS: A retrospective study of 23 patients with refractory seizures who underwent cerebral hemispherectomy. A thorough analysis of the clinical, imaging, surgical features and postoperative results was performed. We also present the surgical technique for a modified PIH technique. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2020, 23 pediatric patients with refractory seizures underwent hemispherotomy (12 FHs, 11 modified PIHs). 91.3% of patients were seizure free at 6 months, 87% at 1 year, and 78.3% at last follow-up. None of the 23 patients presented Engel IV outcome. FH was found to have statistically longer surgical duration (5 ± 1.5 vs. 3.83 ± 0.5 h; p = <0.001). Neurocognition was improved in two thirds of the patients (66.9%). Our study also shows improvement of motor activity in the majority of the patients, regardless of the pathology and surgical technique. In the present report we modified the Cook et al. technique by implementing an amygdalohippocampectomy with resection of the tail of the hippocampus posteriorly and medially, to achieve temporo-occipital disconnection, instead of a complete temporal lobectomy. CONCLUSION: When patients are wisely selected, the hemispherectomy procedure should be considered as a most attractive and curative treatment for children with refractory seizures, not only giving the patient a high chance of seizure freedom but also providing an improvement in motor and cognitive skills. In our particular case and based on the present study, the modified PIH proves to be a highly effective technique. It not only has a shorter surgical time but also a very low complication rate.

Hemisferotomía peri-insular y Hemisferectomía funcional pediátrica para el tratamiento de la epilepsia severa refractaria al tratamiento médico: comparación de dos técnicas / Peri-insular Hemispherotomy and Pediatric Functional Hemispherectomy for the Treatment of Severe Epilepsy Refractory to Medical Treatment: Comparison of Two Techniques

Introducción. Desde que se describió por primera vez en la década de 1970, la hemisferectomía funcional ha sido una herramienta esencial en el tratamiento de la epilepsia refractaria al tratamiento médico secundaria a una enfermedad hemisférica unilateral difusa. Objetivos. Presentar nuestra experiencia con la técnica de hemisferectomía funcional (HF) y de hemisferotomía peri-insular modificada (HPI); describir además la técnica quirúrgica peri-insular, revisar los resultados después de la cirugía, y discutir las diferencias entre las técnicas en cuanto a complicaciones y resultados postoperatorios. Material y Métodos. Se realizo un estudio retrospectivo de 23 pacientes con epilepsia refractaria que fueron sometidos a hemisferectomía cerebral. Se realizó un análisis de las características clínicas, las imágenes, las técnicas quirúrgicas y los resultados postoperatorios. Analizamos tambien la técnica quirúrgica de la HPI modificada. Resultados. Entre 2000 y 2020, 23 pacientes pediátricos con convulsiones refractarias se sometieron a hemisferotomía (12 HF, 11 HPI modificada). El 91,3% de los pacientes estaban libres de crisis a los 6 meses, el 87% al año y el 78,3% en el último seguimiento. Ninguno de los 23 pacientes presentó Engel IV como resultado final. Se encontró que la HF presentó una duración quirúrgica estadísticamente más larga que la HPI (5 ± 1,5 frente a 3,83 ± 0,5 horas; p = <0,001). Como resultados generales, la esfera cognitiva mejoró en dos tercios de los pacientes (66,9%) y además demostramos una mejoría de la actividad motora en la mayoría de los pacientes, independientemente de la patología y la técnica quirúrgica. Conclusión. Cuando los pacientes se seleccionan adecuadamente, la hemisferectomía es un tratamiento eficaz para la epilepsia pediátrica resultante la marcada disfunción de un solo hemisferio cerebral, no sólo brindando al paciente una alta probabilidad de ausencia de convulsiones, sino también proporcionando una mejora en las habilidades motoras y cognitivas. En nuestro caso particular y en base al presente estudio, la HPI modificada resulta ser una técnica altamente efectiva. No solo tiene un tiempo quirúrgico más corto sino también una tasa de complicaciones muy baja

Background. Since it was first described in the 1970s, functional hemispherotomy has been an essential tool in treating disabling, medically refractory epilepsy resulting from diffuse unilateral hemispheric disease. Objectives. To report our experience with 23 patients who underwent hemispherotomy, both using the functional hemispherotomy (FH) as well as a modified peri-insular hemispherotomy (PIH) technique; to present the surgical technique, review outcomes following disconnection surgery and discuss the differences between the techniques when it comes to complications and postoperative results. Methods. A retrospective study of 23 patients with refractory seizures who underwent cerebral hemispherectomy. A thorough analysis of the clinical, imaging, surgical features and postoperative results was performed. We also review the surgical technique for the modified PIH technique. Results. Between 2000 and 2020, 23 pediatric patients with refractory seizures underwent hemispherotomy (12 FHs, 11 modified PIHs). 91.3% of patients were seizure free at 6 months, 87% at 1 year, and 78.3% at last follow-up. None of the 23 patients presented Engel IV outcome. FH was found to have statistically longer surgical duration (5 ± 1.5 vs 3.83 ± 0.5 hours; p = <0.001). Neurocognition was improved in two thirds of the patients (66.9%). Our study also shows improvement of motor activity in most of the patients, regardless of the pathology and surgical technique. Conclusion. When patients are wisely selected, the hemispherotomy procedure should be considered as a most attractive and curative treatment for children with refractory seizures, not only giving the patient a high chance of seizure freedom but also providing an improvement in motor and cognitive skills. In our case and based on the present study, the modified PIH proves to be a highly effective technique. It not only has a shorter surgical time but also a very low complication rate

Risk factors for surgical site infection in pediatric posterior fossa tumors.

PURPOSE: Posterior fossa tumors are the most frequent pediatric solid tumor. Its main treatment is a surgical resection. Being a frequent procedure does not mean that it is exempt from complications, such as surgical site infections (SSI). The main objective of this paper is to study the risk factors associated with SSI following a resection of posterior fossa tumors in a purely pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study including all posterior fossa tumor surgeries performed at our hospital between January 2014 and December 2019 was conducted. All patients with a diagnosis of a postoperative SSI have been included as cases, and those who had surgery and no infectious complications have been considered as controls. RESULTS: When analyzing risk factors, we have found that patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) (p = 0.03) or external ventricular drainage (EVD) (p = 0.005) placement had a greater chance of presenting a postoperative surgical site infection. Prolonged operative time (p < 0.001) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak through the wound (p = 0.002) also caused an increase in the risk of SSI in the postoperative period. A higher hemoglobin value (p = 0.002) would seem to be a preventive factor. CONCLUSIONS: Some strategies that could help to reduce the risk of infections are managing hydrocephalus preferably with endoscopic third ventriculostomy, minimizing the needed operative time to perform the procedure, obtaining an adequate serum hemoglobin level, and avoiding CSF leak through the wound.

Factores de riesgo para infecciones del sitio quirúrgico en tumores de fosa posterior / Risk factors for surgical site infections in posterior fossa tumors

Introducción: Los tumores de fosa posterior son la patología oncológica más frecuente en pediatría con la exéresis quirúrgica como principal tratamiento1­3. El hecho de que sea un procedimiento frecuente no hace que se encuentre exento de complicaciones, como infecciones del sitio quirúrgico 4,5. El objetivo principal es conocer los factores de riesgo que se asocian a infecciones del sitio quirúrgico posterior a la exéresis de tumores de fosa posterior en una población completamente pediátrica. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles retrospectivo donde se analizaron todas las cirugías de tumores de fosa posterior que se realizaron en nuestro hospital entre enero del 2014 a mayo del 2020. Se incluyeron como casos a todos los pacientes que presentaron una infección del sistema nervioso central postoperatoria y como controles a los que pacientes que se operaron y no presentaron infección. Resultados: Al analizar los factores de riesgo encontramos que los pacientes con colocación de DVP (p=0.03) o DVE (p=0.005) tienen mayor chance de presentar infección del sitio quirúrgico en el postoperatorio. Mayor valor de Hemoglobina (p=0.002) parecería ser un factor preventivo. Las cirugías prolongadas (p<0.001) y la fístula a través de la herida (p=0.002) aumentan s las chances de infección del sitio quirúrgico en el postoperatorio. Conclusiones: Algunas estrategias que podrían ayudar a reducir el número de infecciones son: un adecuado control de la hidrocefalia prequirúrgica, preferentemente mediante TVE; reducir al mínimo el tiempo quirúrgico necesario para realizar el procedimiento; ingresar a quirófano con una hemoglobina adecuada y evitar la fístula de líquido por la herida

Baclofen pump with pre-brainstem catheter tip placement: technical note and case series.

PURPOSE: This study aims to describe a new baclofen pump implantation technique with pre-brainstem catheter placement and to demonstrate the benefits that this procedure has in treating spasticity and dystonia. METHODS: We described a new technique to place a baclofen pump catheter anterior to the brainstem. To illustrate the technique, we presented five patients with both spasticity and dystonia in whom conventional treatment was not effective. They each received a baclofen pump with a pre-brainstem catheter. We evaluated the results using the Ashworth scale for spasticity, the Barry-Albright scale for dystonia, and the PedsQL for quality of life assessment. Each patient was evaluated before a surgery and after 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in all the physical examination evaluated areas using the Barry-Albright and modified Ashworth scales between the preoperative and the postoperative period. The same applies to the results of the PedsQL quality of life scale. CONCLUSION: We presented an innovative baclofen pump implantation technique with pre-brainstem catheter placement that could be a therapeutic alternative in patients with dystonia and spastic quadriparesis for whom conventional therapy is not effective.

Complicaciones inusuales de las derivaciones ventrículoperitoneales. A propósito de 2 casos pediátricos / Unusual complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunts. About 2 pediatric cases

Introducción: Durante el seguimiento de los pacientes con derivación ventrículoperitoneal (DVP) para el tratamiento de la hidrocefalia se pueden presentar complicaciones habituales relacionadas a la derivación, tales como infecciones u obstrucción/ruptura del sistema derivativo. Sin embargo, raramente se pueden observar complicaciones más raras y graves que pueden afectan a órganos como el corazón y el pulmón. Pacientes y métodos: Presentamos 2 pacientes con raras complicaciones relacionadas a la DVP. El primero, un paciente de 10 años, que después de 7 años de la implantación de una DVP presentó episodios de neumonía recurrente secundaria a la migración intrapulmonar del catéter distal. El segundo caso, un paciente de 3 años, que 5 meses posteriores a la colocación de una DVP presentó síntomas de hipertensión endocraneana secundarios a migración intracardíaca del catéter distal. Conclusión: La migración intrapulmonar e intracardíaca del catéter distal son complicaciones extremadamente raras, pero que pueden producir morbilidad importante. Los pacientes con derivación ventrículoperitoneal deben ser controlados de forma rutinaria de por vida, con la finalidad de evitar comorbilidades asociadas a sus complicaciones.

Introduction: during the follow-up of patients with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts for the treatment of hydrocephalus, common complications may occur, such as infections or obstruction/rupture of the shunt system. However, more rare and serious complications that affect organs such as the heart and lungs can be observed Patients and methods: we present 2 patients with rare complications related to VP shunts. The first, a 10-year-old patient, who 7 years after implantation of a VP shunt, presented episodes of recurrent pneumonia secondary to intrapulmonary migration of the distal catheter. The second case, a 3-year-old patient, who 5 months after the placement of a VP shunt, presented with symptoms of intracranial hypertension secondary to intracardiac migration of the distal catheter. Conclusion: intrapulmonary and intracardiac migration of the distal catheter are extremely rare complications, but they can cause significant morbidity. Patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts should be routinely monitored for life by neurosurgeons, in order to avoid comorbidities associated with potential complications.