Surgery for Radiologically Normal-Appearing Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in a Centre with Limited Resources.

Approximately 26-30% of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) cases display a normal-appearing magnetic resonance image (MRI) leading to difficulty in determining the epileptogenic focus. This causes challenges in surgical management, especially in countries with limited resources. The medical records of 154 patients with normal-appearing MRI TLE who underwent epilepsy surgery between July 1999 and July 2019 in our epilepsy centre in Indonesia were examined. The primary outcome was the Engel classification of seizures. Anterior temporal lobectomy was performed in 85.1% of the 154 patients, followed by selective amygdalo-hippocampectomy and resection surgery. Of 82 patients (53.2%), Engel Class I result was reported in 69.5% and Class II in 25.6%. The median seizure-free period was 13 (95% CI,12.550-13.450) years, while the seizure-free rate at 5 and 12 years follow-up was 96.3% and 69.0%, respectively. Patients with a sensory aura had better seizure-free outcome 15 (11.575-18.425) years. Anterior temporal lobectomy and selective amygdala-hippocampectomy gave the same favourable outcome. Despite the challenges of surgical procedures for normal MRI TLE, our outcome has been favourable. This study suggests that epilepsy surgery in normal MRI TLE can be performed in centres with limited resources.

Seizure Outcomes in Patients with Complete versus Anterior Corpus Callosotomy: Analysis of Outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Corpus callosotomy (CCT) is a palliative procedure to treat injurious drop attacks or multifocal/generalized seizures in which resection of the epileptogenic focus is not feasible. We are presenting our experience in treating intractable epilepsy patients by CCT procedures. METHODS: We observed 16 patients who underwent callosotomy (male to female ratio 7:9; adult to pediatric ratio 3:13). Initial seizure frequency was reported ranged from 1 to 2 attacks daily to very often (more than 20 episodes daily). RESULTS: Our observation showed that among patients with drop attacks, complete and >90% seizure freedom was reported by 4 and 6 of 13 patients, respectively (76.9% combined). CONCLUSION: Our observation showed that corpus callosotomy yielded good outcome in patients with intractable epilepsy in Indonesia. Our observation showed total callosotomy achieved complete seizure freedom better compared to partial callosotomy patients.

Hemispherotomy for drug-resistant epilepsy in an Indonesian population.

Hemispherotomy is a surgical treatment indicated in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy due to unilateral hemispheric pathology. Hemispherotomy is less invasive compared with hemispherectomy. We reviewed our experience performing 24 hemispherotomy and report the results of 16 patients with prolonged follow-up of this relatively uncommon procedure in two centers in Indonesia. This is a retrospective observational study conducted from 1999 to July 2019 in two epilepsy neurosurgical centers in Semarang, Indonesia. Surgical techniques included vertical parasagittal hemispherotomy (VPH), peri-insular hemispherotomy (PIH), and modified PIH called the Shimizu approach (SA). The postoperative assessment was carried out using the Engel classification system of seizure outcome. Seizure freedom (Engel class I) outcome was achieved in 10 patients (62.5%), class II in 3 patients (18.7%), class III in 2 patients (12.5%), and class IV in 1 patient (6.3%) with follow-up duration spanning from 24 to 160 months. To the best of our knowledge, this series is the most extensive documentation of hemispherotomy in an Indonesian population.