Hemispherotomy for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy in a Low-resource Setting: Surgical Outcomes and Quality of Life in 23 Children Treated in a Hybrid Program in Panama.

Introduction: Hemispherotomy is an effective treatment for children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). While hemispherotomy techniques and indications have evolved, access remains predominantly constrained to high resource settings.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of children who underwent hemispherotomy from 2011 to 2023 by a hybrid team, including local Panamanian and US neurologists, neurosurgeons and EEG technicians and analyzed surgical, epilepsy and quality of life (QoL) parameters. Follow-up data was collected according to the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) guidelines for children with epilepsy.

Results: Twenty-three children underwent hemispherotomy. The median age at surgery was 10 years (range 2-20). The median follow-up time was six years (range 1-13). The etiology of DRE included malformations of cortical development in 14 children (60.8%), including 8 (34.8%) with schizencephaly, and secondary causes in 9 children (39.1%). Seizure frequency improved for all 23 children (100%): Engel I was achieved in 15 children (65.2%), Engel II (26.1%) in six children, and Engel III (8.7%) in two children. Patients with seizure freedom had significantly fewer preoperative seizures per day than patients with seizure recurrence. Complications occurred in six children (26.1%): 2 wound infections, 2 meningitis, 1 femoral vein thrombosis and 1 wound hematoma with return to OR. There was no perioperative mortality, and no postoperative hydrocephalus or CSF diversion. QoL-related outcomes were available for 16 children: 16/16 (100%) reported that the surgery was a worthwhile and repeatable choice, 14 (87.5%) reported improved cognitive function, the median QOLCE-16 score was 62.5±21.

Conclusion: Hemispherotomy for DRE in select children is a safe and effective surgery in a public children's hospital in a low-resource setting. At last follow-up, the majority of children were seizure-free, and all children had decreased seizure frequency. Families reported improved cognitive function, improved QoL and high satisfaction with their decision to pursue this surgery.