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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients
09:32

Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients

Published on: December 18, 2016

Beyond seizures: understanding adaptive functioning in drug-resistant epilepsy in patients undergoing palliative

Ana Valeria Duarte Oliveira1, Hélio Rubens Machado2,3, Úrsula Thomé2

  • 1Center for Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery, University Hospital, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Bairro Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14048-900, Brazil. anaoliveira5100@gmail.com.

Child'S Nervous System : Chns : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
|July 17, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy surgery improves adaptive functioning over time, especially with better seizure control. Early intervention may prevent developmental delays and enhance long-term outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Epileptology
  • Developmental Neuroscience

Background:

  • Pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) presents significant challenges to adaptive functioning.
  • Corpus callosotomy and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are palliative surgical options for DRE.
  • Long-term adaptive outcomes following these interventions require further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess clinical predictors of adaptive functioning in pediatric DRE patients.
  • To evaluate the impact of corpus callosotomy and VNS on adaptive behavior.
  • To analyze long-term adaptive functioning using Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective observational cohort study of 37 pediatric DRE patients.
  • Interventions included corpus callosotomy (n=24) or VNS (n=13).
  • VABS assessed adaptive functioning preoperatively and at two postoperative time points (mean 25 and 51 months).

Main Results:

  • All patients showed preoperative adaptive delay.
  • Seizure reduction occurred in 70.2% of patients, with Engel class II-III outcomes.
  • Adaptive functioning initially declined but gradually improved, correlating with seizure control.

Conclusions:

  • Palliative epilepsy surgery is safe for pediatric DRE, reducing seizures and medication burden.
  • Gradual improvement in adaptive functioning is observed post-surgery.
  • Early surgical intervention may mitigate developmental decline and improve long-term adaptive outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Follow-up studiesPediatrics neurosurgeryTreatment outcomeVineland scale

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