Electrocorticography and stimulation (original) (raw)

Intraoperative Electrocorticography in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery

The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 2000

The purpose of this paper is mainly to introduce and compare and contrast the concepts of undifferentiated and differentiated ECoG in temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. These will be illustrated with previously unpublished data from the University of British Columbia (UBC) supporting ECoG differentiation. Since a comprehensive critical review of ECoG has recently been published, 2 we have chosen to only briefly review the pathophysiology, methodology and current status of ECoG here.

Intraoperative electrocorticography in epilepsy surgery: useful or not?

Seizure, 2003

Intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) has been traditionally used in the surgical management of medically refractory partial epilepsies to identify the location and limits of the epileptogenic area, to guide the extent of resection, and to assess its completeness. Although in clinical use for many years, the basic questions regarding indications and limitations of this method has remained unanswered. ECoG plays a major role in tailored temporal lobectomies, whereas, it serves no practical purpose in standard resection of medial temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). Residual hippocampal spikes, unaltered by resection, correlate with a greater proportion of seizure recurrence. Intraoperative hippocampal ECoG can allow sparing of functionally important hippocampus, thus minimising postoperative memory decline. ECoG eminently aids removal of developmental malformations of brain, and most importantly, the excision of highly epileptogenic cortical dysplasias (CDs) for deciding the extent of resection for best seizure control. The ECoG can be a valuable tool during multiple subpial transections (MST).

Electrocorticographic Patterns in Epilepsy Surgery and Long-Term Outcome

Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2017

The role of intraoperative electrocorticography (iECoG) and of its patterns in epilepsy surgery have shown contradictory results. Our aim was to describe iECoG patterns and their association with outcome in epilepsy surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 104 patients who underwent epilepsy surgery (2009-2015) with pre-and postresection iECoG. We described clinical findings, type of surgery, preresection iECoG patterns according to Palmini et al., 1995 (sporadic, continuous, burst, and recruiting interictal epileptiform dischargesdIEDs) and postresection iECoG outcome (de novo, residual, and without IEDs). The Engel scale was used to evaluate the outcome. Descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier, the logistic regression model, and analysis of variance tests were used. Results: We included 60.6% (63/104) females, with a mean age of 35 (610.2) years at the time of epilepsy surgery. The etiologies were hippocampal sclerosis (63.5%), cavernomas (14.4%), cortical dysplasia (11.5%), and low-grade tumors (10.6%). The most common preresection iECoG pattern was sporadic IEDs (47%). Postresection iECoG patterns were de novo (55.7%), residual (27.8%), and without IEDs (16.3%). Mean follow-up was 19.2 months. Engel scale was as follows: Engel I (91 patients, 87.5%), Engel II (10 patients, 9.6%), and Engel III (three patients, 2.9%). Analysis by mixed-design analysis of variance showed a significant difference between etiology groups with a strong size effect (P ¼ 0.021, h 2 ¼ 0.513) and also between preresection iECoG patterns (P ¼ 0.008, h 2 ¼ 0.661). Conclusions: Preresection iECoG patterns and etiology influence Engel scale outcome in lesional epilepsy surgery.

Subdural and depth electrodes in the presurgical evaluation of epilepsy

Acta Neurochirurgica, 1994

From 1987 to 1992, invasive EEG studies using subdural strips, grids or depth electrodes were performed in a total of 160 patients with medically intractable epilepsy, in whom scalp EEG was insufficient to localize the epileptogenic focus. Dependent on the individual requirements, these different electrode types were used alone or in combination. Multiple strip electrodes with 4 to 16 contacts were implanted in 157 cases through burrholes, grids with up to 64 contacts in 15 cases via boneflaps, and intrahippocampal depth electrodes in 36 cases using stereotactic procedures. In every case, localization of the electrodes with respect to brain structures was controlled by CT scan and MRI. Visual and computerized analysis of extra-operative recordings allowed the localization of a resectable epileptogenic focus in 143 patients (89%), who subsequently were referred for surgery, whereas surgery had to be denied to 17 patients (11%). We did not encounter any permanent morbidity or mortality in our series. In our experience, EEG-mouitoring with chronically implanted electrodes is a feasible technique which contributes essentially to the exact localization of the epileptogenic focus, since it allows nearly artefact-free recording of the ictal and interictal activity. Moreover, grid electrodes can be used for extra-operative functional topographic mapping of eloquent brain areas.

Preresection intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) abnormalities predict seizure-onset zone and outcome in pediatric epilepsy surgery

Epilepsia, 2016

The predictive value of intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) in pediatric epilepsy surgery is unknown. In a population of children undergoing ECoG followed typically by invasive extraoperative monitoring (IEM) and resection, we aimed to determine the relationship between frequent ECoG abnormalities and the seizure onset zone and outcome after resection. We retrospectively identified 103 children with preresection ECoG of sufficient technical quality. ECoG records were scored based on electrode location and frequency, blinded to the seizure-onset zone and outcome. Electrographic seizure and spike locations were identified. Locations of seizures and spike populations were then compared to the location of seizure-onset zone defined by IEM using subdural electrodes and resection margin. Electrographic seizures were identified in 11 (11%) of 103 patients. A spike population of one or more was noted in 79 (77%) of 103 patients. In 50 (63%) of 79 patients, spike populations correlate...

Role of subdural electrocorticography in prediction of long-term seizure outcome in epilepsy surgery

Brain, 2008

Since prediction of long-term seizure outcome using preoperative diagnostic modalities remains suboptimal in epilepsy surgery, we evaluated whether interictal spike frequency measures obtained from extraoperative subdural electrocorticography (ECoG) recording could predict long-term seizure outcome. This study included 61 young patients (age 0.4-23.0 years), who underwent extraoperative ECoG recording prior to cortical resection for alleviation of uncontrolled focal seizures. Patient age, frequency of preoperative seizures, neuroimaging findings, ictal and interictal ECoG measures were preoperatively obtained. The seizure outcome was prospectively measured [follow-up period: 2.5-6.4 years (mean 4.6 years)]. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses determined how well preoperative demographic and diagnostic measures predicted long-term seizure outcome. Following the initial cortical resection, Engel Class I, II, III and IV outcomes were noted in 35, 6, 12 and 7 patients, respectively. One child died due to disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with pseudomonas sepsis 2 days after surgery. Univariate regression analyses revealed that incomplete removal of seizure onset zone, higher interictal spike-frequency in the preserved cortex and incomplete removal of cortical abnormalities on neuroimaging were associated with a greater risk of failing to obtain Class I outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that incomplete removal of seizure onset zone was the only independent predictor of failure to obtain Class I outcome. The goodness of regression model fit and the predictive ability of regression model were greatest in the full regression model incorporating both ictal and interictal measures [R 2 0.44; Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve: 0.81], slightly smaller in the reduced model incorporating ictal but not interictal measures (R 2 0.40; Area under the ROC curve: 0.79) and slightly smaller again in the reduced model incorporating interictal but not ictal measures (R 2 0.27; Area under the ROC curve: 0.77). Seizure onset zone and interictal spike frequency measures on subdural ECoG recording may both be useful in predicting the long-term seizure outcome of epilepsy surgery. Yet, the additive clinical impact of interictal spike frequency measures to predict long-term surgical outcome may be modest in the presence of ictal ECoG and neuroimaging data.

The clinical utility of intraoperative electrocorticography in pediatric epilepsy surgical strategy and planning

Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, 2020

OBJECTIVEIn this study, the authors aimed to determine 1) whether the use of intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) affects outcomes and complication rates of children undergoing resective epilepsy surgery; 2) which patient- and epilepsy-related variables might influence ECoG-based surgical strategy; and 3) what the predictors of epilepsy surgery outcomes are.METHODSOver a period of 12 years, data were collected on pediatric patients who underwent tailored brain resections in the Motol Epilepsy Center. In patients in whom an abnormal ECoG pattern (e.g., spiking, suppression burst, or recruiting rhythm) was not observed beyond presurgically planned resection margins, the authors did not modify the surgical plan (group A). In those with significant abnormal ECoG findings beyond resection margins, the authors either did (group B) or did not (group C) modify the surgical plan, depending on the proximity of the eloquent cortex or potential extent of resection. Using Fisher’s exact te...

Risk factors for complications during intracranial electrode recording in presurgical evaluation of drug resistant partial epilepsy

Acta Neurochirurgica, 2009

Background Intracranial electrode monitoring is still required in epilepsy surgery; however, it is associated with significant morbidity. Objective To identify risk factors associated with complications during invasive intracranial EEG monitoring. Materials and methods Retrospective study of all patients undergoing invasive monitoring at Westmead between 1988-2004. From detailed chart reviews, the following variables were recorded: duration of intracranial monitoring, the site of grid implantation, number of grids and electrodes, seizure frequency, postoperative complications and seizure outcome. Results Seventy-one patients (median age: 24 years) underwent subdural electrode implantation; 62% had extratemporal lobe epilepsy and 46% were non-lesional. Of the 58 monitored patients who had cortical resections, 45 had good seizure outcomes. Complications related to subdural electrode implantation included transient complications requiring no treatment (12.7%), transient complications requiring treatment (9.9%) and two deaths (2.8%). Specific complications included subdural haemorrhage, transient neurological deficit, infarction and osteomyelitis. The two deaths occurred within 48 h of implantation were related to raised intracranial pressure (one venous infarction, one unexplained). Complications were associated with maximal size of grid (p<0.001), greater number of electrodes (p<0.001), electrode density per cortical surface implanted (p<0.001), right central surface implantation (p=0.003) and left central surface implantation (p=0.013). Multiple logistic regression identified larger size grids and right central surface implantation as independent predictors of complications. Conclusion There are significant complications during intracranial EEG evaluations but the majority of these are transient. We found a relationship between the size of the electrode arrays and the incidence of complications. The results of this study have been used to modify our implantation and monitoring protocols.