title: Outcome of bipolar electrocoagulation with lesionectomy in the treatment of epilepsy involving eloquent areas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have demonstrated previously that bipolar electrocoagulation on functional cortex (BCFC) is a safe and effective approach for epilepsy involving eloquent areas. Here, we report the results of BCFC with lesionectomy for patients with epileptogenic foci partially overlapping eloquent areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients who had been treated with lesionectomy with BCFC were retrospectively reviewed with regard to seizure outcome and neurological deficits. Ten similar patients who had received lesionectomy with multiple subpial transections (MST) were examined as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the lesionectomy group with BCFC, Engel class I was achieved in 18 (45%) patients, class II in 8 (20%) patients, class III in 8 (20%) patients and class IV in 6 (15%) patients. Five (12.5%) patients developed mild hemiparesis and 1 (2.5%) patient mild sensory dysphasia. In the lesionectomy group with MST, Engel class I was achieved in 3 (30%) patients, class II in 2 (20%) patients, class III in 3 (30%) patients and class IV in 2 (20%) patients. Two (20%) patients developed mild hemiparesis and 1 (10%) patient moderate hemiparesis. All these complications recovered within 1-12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with MST, the outcome of BCFC with lesionectomy is similar. But since MST leads to mechanical injury, while BCFC causes thermal injury, the complications of BCFC seem less severe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University Beijing, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Tianfu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Guoming
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D065711:Broca Area / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D000069279:Drug Resistant Epilepsy / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000601:surgery; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D065813:Wernicke Area / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult