focal epilepsy
Conditions
Interventions
In this study, we propose the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of specific thalamic nuclei for the treatment of refractory focal epilepsy, in five patients, as follows: ventral intermediate/ventral
ventral posterior nucleus - VP (or ventrobasal nucleus or ventrocaudal nucleus), for focal sensitive epilepsy
lateral geniculate body (LGB), for focal epilepsy with visual symptomatology
and medial geniculate body (MGB), for focal epilepsy with auditory symptomatology, for patients unable to undergo surgical resections of epileptogenic zones because they are present in eloquent brain
Sponsors
Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás
Instituto Neurológico de Goiânia
Eligibility
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Volunteers with focal motor epilepsy, sensitive, with auditory and visual symptomatology refractory to conservative treatment; age 18 to 60 years; Brazilian; with structural lesion identified by the MRI, entering primary, somesthetic, visual or auditory motor area, without other lesions.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Volunteers with focal epilepsy combined with other types of epilepsy; with comorbidities that make the surgical procedure high risk; active infections; uncontrolled systemic arterial hypertension; uncontrolled blood dyscrasias; use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs which temporary suspension is impracticable due to potential risks; impossibility to attend follow up appointments.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The reduction or elimination of focal motor, sensory, visual, and auditory seizures through deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral intermediate nucleus/ventral posterior oral (Vim/VOp), ventral posterior nucleus (VP), lateral geniculate body (GLC) and medial geniculate body (MGC), respectively, defining these specific thalamic nuclei as alternative surgical targets, or even first choice, since the risks of ECP are lower than those of surgical resections for the treatment of focal epilepsies. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The improvement of the quality of life of the research participants, secondary to the reduction or elimination of convulsive crises, after the proposed surgery; and the discovery of the participation of specific thalamic nuclei (Vim/VOp, VP, GLB and MGB) pathophysiology of focal epilepsy. | — |
Countries
Brazil
Contacts
Public ContactOsvaldo Vilela Filho
Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás
Outcome results
None listed