Surgical treatment for refractory temporal lobe epilepsy in children

Objective To study the preoperative evaluation, surgical treatment strategies, and factors associated with seizure outcome of refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in children.Methods Of a series of 21 children with refractory TLE, who were treated surgically during the period from July 2007 to February 2009, nineteen were followed up and their clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. Most patients had complex partial seizure, seizure aura such as abdominal discomfort, and automatism such as smacking lips and swallowing. MRI scanning demonstrated abnormal signal at temporal lobe in 15 cases. Six patients had abnormal results in PET scaning. Scalp EEG monitoring demonstrated local epilepsy discharge in 7 cases, and multiple locals in 12. Fifteen patients underwent surgery for removal of one side pretemporal lobe and amygdalohippocampus, and 4 had still partial cortex of the frontal lobe resection. Results The follow- up period ranged from 12 to 30 months. The seizure outcome according to Engel outcome scale were Ⅰ grade in 13 cases, Ⅱ in 3, Ⅲ 1 and Ⅳ in 2.Neuropsychological outcome: Two patients improved significantly. Postoperative pathology results included the brain cortex dysplasia and mesial temporal lobe sclerosis. Conclusions Most of the children who had temporal lobe surgery for intractable TLE had good seizure contral. The procedure is safe, with a low complication rate. A concordant localization of epileptogenic zone from seizure manifestation, EEG and neuroimaging studies may predict a favorable seizure outcome. Early surgical intervention may improve the neuropsychological scale. Key words: Children; Temporal lobe epilepsy; Surgical procedures,operative; Prognosis