Reduction of intractable seizures using cerebellar stimulation.
Of the 32 patients with active intractable seizures, 27 had spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and 5 had epilepsy (EP), and all underwent chronic cerebellar stimulation (CCS) (amplitude 1-2 microC/cm2/phase, rate 10-180 pps, duration of implantation 0.5-7 years, average 4.5 years). Grand mal seizures occurred in 23 patients (19 CP, 4 EP); with CCS 17 patients stopped, 4 had a reduction, 3 were unchanged. Petit mal occurred in 9 patients (8 CP, 1 EP); with CCS 4 patients ceased seizuring, 3 reduced and 2 were unchanged. Myoclonic seizures were present in 6 patients (5 CP, 1 EP); with CCS 1 patient stopped, 3 had a reduction while 2 patients were unaffected. Severe psychomotor seizuring affected 2 EP patients, 1 had a marked behavioral improvement and finally stopped seizuring for the past 9 months. Overall, CCS stopped 18 (57%) of the patients seizuring, reduced a further 9 (28%), with no effect in 5 patients (15%).
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans