Mutism in 36 patients who underwent callosotomy for drug-resistant epilepsy.
Thirty-six drug-resistant epileptic patients submitted to callosotomy were studied. Anterior callosotomy was performed in 27 patients, total two-stage callosotomy was performed in 8 patients and 1 patient had only posterior callosotomy. We found mutism in 10 patients (2 after complete callosotomy and 8 after anterior section). The patients did not speak, but the comprehension was present: they were able to carry out orders and to write. Their attitude to the environment was characterized by complete indifference. The mutism was always transient, lasting from 4 to 25 days (mean 7 days). Regression of mutism was always complete. We think that this complication should be chiefly attributed mainly to surgical manipulation, even if it is impossible to completely exclude a multi-factorial etiology.
Quattrini
A
A
Epilepsy Centre, Regional Hospital, Ancona, Italy.
Del Pesce
M
M
Provinciali
L
L
Cesarano
R
R
Ortenzi
A
A
Paggi
A
A
Rychlicki
F
F
Fioravanti
P
P
Papo
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000601:surgery*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009155:Mutism / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis