Neuronavigation and complication rate in epilepsy surgery

Neurosurg Rev. 2004 Jul;27(3):214-7. doi: 10.1007/s10143-004-0324-y. Epub 2004 Mar 27.

Abstract

The role of neuronavigation for complications in temporal lobe epilepsy surgery was evaluated. Thirty-seven patients operated on with neuronavigation (group N: 38 operations; mean age 33.9 years; etiology: cryptogenetic 31, symptomatic 7; lateralization: 22 right, 16 left) and 22 patients operated on without neuronavigation (group NN: 23 operations; mean age 29.7 years; etiology: cryptogenetic 9, symptomatic 14; lateralization: 13 right; 10 left) were analyzed. The minimal follow-up time was 2 years. There was a clear difference in the number of complications (N 7.9%; NN 21.7%), which consisted of hemiparesis (N: 1; NN: 2), cranial nerve palsy (N: 1; NN: 2), aphasia (N: 1; NN: 0), and postoperative infection (N: 0; NN: 1). In addition, there was a reduced need for temporal re-resection after intraoperative electrocorticography (N 30.6%; NN 47.1%). Operation time (N: 239+/-9.4 min; NN: 208+/-12.1 min), duration of postoperative in-hospital and in-ICU stay [N: 16.9+/-1.1 days (1.0+/-0.0 days); NN: 17.2+/-2.8 days (1.1+/-0.1 days)], extension of temporal lobe resection from polar (N: 41.2+/-1.5 cm; NN: 42.9+/-3.9 cm), and postoperative seizure frequency reduction (N 90.4%; NN 94.7%) were not different. Because of the trend towards a reduction of complications and re-resections after electrocorticography, the authors recommend neuronavigation despite its higher costs as an additional tool in epilepsy surgery.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anterior Temporal Lobectomy / adverse effects*
  • Anterior Temporal Lobectomy / methods*
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuronavigation*
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • Reoperation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome