Surgery for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to explore the effectiveness of brain surgery for individuals with epilepsy that does not improve with medication. The goal is to help those with drug-resistant epilepsy by using surgery to relieve or reduce seizures. Participants must have seizures originating from one area of the brain that medication has not controlled and must be open to undergoing brain surgery. Researchers hope to gather data through this trial to improve understanding of epilepsy and its treatment. As a Phase 2 trial, this study focuses on measuring the surgery's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, offering participants a chance to contribute to important research.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What prior data suggests that this surgical treatment is safe for drug resistant epilepsy?
Research shows that surgery can be a safe and effective treatment for people whose epilepsy doesn't respond to medication. Studies have found that surgery can lead to seizure freedom for some patients. For instance, one study found that people who had surgery were more likely to be free from seizures compared to those who only took medicine.
Another study examined different types of surgeries and found that both traditional and less invasive methods could help reduce seizures.
Importantly, surgeons have performed epilepsy surgery for many years. While there are risks, it is generally well-tolerated. Most patients recover well, and the surgery aims to stop seizures without affecting important brain functions like speaking or moving.
Overall, these studies suggest that surgery is a promising option for treating epilepsy when medications do not work.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Surgery as a treatment for medically intractable epilepsy is unique because it offers a potential solution for patients who do not respond to standard medications. Most current treatments for epilepsy involve anti-seizure drugs, which aim to control seizures but may not work for everyone. This surgical approach targets the source of seizures directly, potentially eliminating them entirely rather than just managing symptoms. Researchers are excited about this option because it could provide relief for those with drug-resistant epilepsy, improving quality of life significantly.
What is the effectiveness track record for surgical treatment of drug resistant epilepsy?
Research has shown that surgery can be very effective for people with epilepsy that doesn't respond to medication. In this trial, participants will undergo surgical treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. Studies have found that 50% to 70% of patients experience a major reduction in seizures or become completely seizure-free after surgery. Specifically, one study found that 77% of children who had the surgery were free from seizures a year later. Surgery targets the specific part of the brain where seizures begin, making it effective for many whose seizures start in one area. While not everyone qualifies for this surgery, those who do often see significant improvements in their condition.24567
Who Is on the Research Team?
Kareem A Zaghloul, M.D.
Principal Investigator
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Pre-Surgical Evaluation
Participants undergo video electroencephalography monitoring and placement of electrodes to determine the seizure focus.
Surgical Treatment
Participants undergo surgery to remove or treat the seizure focus.
Post-Surgical Follow-up
Participants return for outpatient visits and brain imaging studies to monitor recovery and effectiveness of the surgery.
Long-term Follow-up
Participants are monitored for seizure freedom and potential withdrawal from anti-epileptic medication.
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Surgical Treatment of drug resistant epilepsy
How Is the Trial Designed?
1
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Patients 8 years of age or older with drug resistant epilepsy or tumor related epilepsy
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Lead Sponsor
Citations
Surgical Treatment for Refractory Epilepsy: Review of ...
Large series have shown that approximately 30% to 50% of patients treated with VNS will have a good outcome of greater than 50% reduction in seizures [42, 43].
Comparative Efficacy of Surgical Strategies for Drug ...
In the temporal lobe epilepsy group (Figure 7), 39% of patients remained seizure-free postoperatively (95% CI: 18%–59%). From the above results, it can be seen ...
3.
practicalneurology.com
practicalneurology.com/diseases-diagnoses/epilepsy-seizures/surgical-management-of-intractable-epilepsy/30178/Surgical Management of Intractable Epilepsy
Approximately 70% to 80% of these patients achieve acceptable seizure control with antiepileptic drugs, while the remaining 20% to 30% have drug-resistant ...
Surgery for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy in Children
Results. At 12 months, freedom from seizures occurred in 44 patients (77%) in the surgery group and in 4 (7%) in the medical- ...
Epilepsy surgery
Epilepsy surgery is most effective when seizures always occur in a single area in the brain. It's not the first line of treatment. But surgery ...
Advancements in Surgical Therapies for Drug-Resistant ...
This review outlines the latest innovations in epilepsy surgery, emphasizing their mechanisms and clinical implications to improve outcomes for patients with ...
Resective Surgery for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy in Patients ...
In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the surgery group exhibited a significantly higher probability of seizure freedom compared with the medicine ...
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