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Anatomical hemispherectomy for intractable seizures: excellent seizure control, low morbidity and no superficial cerebral haemosiderosis

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Abstract

Objective

This current study was performed to evaluate whether superficial cerebral haemosiderosis (SCH) is still a complication of modern day anatomical hemispherectomy.

Methods

We report a 13-year institutional experience with anatomical hemispherectomy for intractable epilepsy. Seizure control at a mean follow-up interval of 7 years was 83%. Though one patient died post-operatively from a non-neurosurgical complication, mortality was otherwise zero and morbidity minimal. The much-described complication of SCH following anatomical hemispherectomy was non-existent. We explain the history of SCH as a complication of anatomical hemispherectomy, and the measures that are presently taken to prevent it.

Conclusions

We suggest that the importance of SCH in modern epilepsy surgery is probably over-emphasised.

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Acknowledgements

The authors have no vested interest of any kind in the publication or presentation of this work. With regard to the dural graft and biological glue types used for isolation of the hemispherectomy cavity, we have no particular preference, as many of them are of equal efficacy, and we have no financial interest of any kind in any of the varieties available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital NHS Trust, Alder Hey and the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust, Eaton Road, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK

    Donncha F. O’Brien, Surajit Basu, Dawn H. Williams & Paul L. May

Authors
  1. Donncha F. O’Brien
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  2. Surajit Basu
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  3. Dawn H. Williams
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  4. Paul L. May
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donncha F. O’Brien.

Additional information

A commentary on this paper is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00381-005-0024-0

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O’Brien, D.F., Basu, S., Williams, D.H. et al. Anatomical hemispherectomy for intractable seizures: excellent seizure control, low morbidity and no superficial cerebral haemosiderosis. Childs Nerv Syst 22, 489–498 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-005-0023-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-005-0023-1

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