Hemispherectomy Surgery Shown to Be Effective

A study has found that 86% of 111 children who underwent hemispherectomy to relieve frequent seizures between 1975 and 2001 are either seizure-free or have nondisabling seizures that do not require medication. The results were published in the October 14, 2003, issue of Neurology.

All hemispherectomy patients have partial paralysis on the side of the body opposite the removed portion, but most have adapted to their handicapped side so well that they can play the piano, ping-pong, and golf. Patients who benefit the most from hemispherectomy are those with a rare nervous disorder called Rasmussen's syndrome and those with congenital vascular injuries. The surgery leaves the deep structures of the brain intact. Because children's brains are "plastic,” if surgeons remove an affected portion of the brain, the remaining portion overtakes most of the functions of the affected side.

"It's clear now that the quality of life of children with chronic, severe seizures greatly improves following hemispherectomy,” said lead author Eric Kossoff, M.D., a pediatric epileptologist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center (Baltimore, MD, USA). In almost all cases, the children no longer depend on multiple medications, and postoperatively, most of the children are walking and running and living normal lives.”

Theses findings should help parents of children who are still contemplating whether their child would benefit from the surgery, noted Dr. Kossoff.