Memory outcome after selective amygdalohippocampectomy in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: one-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
In a previous study we reported clinically significant memory declines 3 months after selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SAH) in 140 patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, particularly if the resection was left-sided. We supposed that the observed postoperative impairments might have reflected acute effects of surgery. Therefore we evaluated in the present study whether a recovery can be found 1 year after surgery.


METHODS
Verbal and nonverbal memory functions were assessed in 115 patients before and 3 and 12 months after unilateral SAH.


RESULTS
No recovery of postoperative verbal memory declines was found in the left-SAH group. Clinically meaningful losses were still evident in 33 to 50% of patients. In right-SAH patients, a recovery of verbal memory was indicated, and effects of surgical complications were no longer evident. One year after surgery, the corresponding preoperative performance was the only significant predictor of a postoperative change in the left-SAH group.


CONCLUSIONS
Verbal memory decline observed 3 months after left SAH is persistent 1 year after surgery. Declines in verbal memory, which were observed in some right-SAH patients at the short-term follow-up, seem to be temporary.
Gleissner
Ulrike
U
University Hospital of Epileptology, Bonn, Germany. ulrike.gleissner@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Helmstaedter
Christoph
C
Schramm
Johannes
J
Elger
Christian E
CE
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000601:surgery*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology