Comparative Analysis of Hemispherotomy in Adults versus Children- A Prospective Observational Series

Background: Hemispherotomy (HS) is an effective treatment for unilateral hemispheric onset epilepsy. There are few publications for HS in adults, and there is no series comparing adults and pediatric patients of HS. Objective: To compare the hemispherotomies done in adult patients with pediatric ones in terms of efficacy and safety. Methods: Data was prospectively collected for HS patients (up to 18 years and more) from Aug 2014 to Aug 2018. Comparison between the groups was made for seizure onset, duration of epilepsy, frequency of seizures, number of drugs, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative seizure control, postoperative stay, postoperative motor functions, and preoperative and postoperative intelligence quotient. Follow-up was one year. Results: A total of 61 pediatric and 11 adults underwent HS. The seizure onset was earlier in children, and the duration of epilepsy was longer in adults. The frequency of seizures per day was more in children being 14.62 +/- 26.34 in children, and 7.71 +/- 5.21 per day in adults (P - 0.49). The mean number of drugs was similar in the preoperative and postoperative periods in both. Class I seizure outcome was similar in both the groups being 85.24% in children and 90.9% in adults (P - 0.56). Blood loss, postoperative stay, was similar in both the groups. No patient had a new permanent motor deficit. Power worsened transiently in 1 pediatric patient and in 4 adult patients. The visual word reading and object naming improved in both the groups (no intergroup difference), and IQ remained the same in both groups. One adult patient had meningitis, and another had hydrocephalus requiring shunt placement. Conclusion: Hemispherotomy is a safe and effective procedure in adults as in children in appropriately selected patients.