Abstracts

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LG) is a severe form of epilepsy in which drop-attacks are the most hazardous type of seizure. Callosotomy has been advocated as a palliative treatment option in order to reduce the severity of such seizures. We studied the clinical outcome and quality of life op LS patients undergoing callosotomy. From September 1995 to May 2003, 23 patients with LG underwent callosotomy and of those 13 were further studied. All of them had multiple types of seizures that were refractory to medical treatment, with drop-attacks as the most severe type and were followed for at least 1 year after surgery. Demographic data, etiology, neuroimaging, VEEG, medical treatment, seizure type and family satisfaction after surgery were evaluated. 86% were male, onset of seizures was in infancy in the majority of patients, all had cognitive impairment, 5 patients had an unknown etiology. All were dependent on their caregivers for daily activities, such as feeding, taking their medications and walking. Drop-attacks were the most severe and incapacitating seizures. Iterictal EEG had typical LG features and ictal VEEG had diffuse eletrodecremental and generalized run of rapid spikes or generalized slow spike-and-wave. Seizure frequency reduction was [gt] 50% in 8(61,5%), [lt] 50% in 3(23%) and without significant changes in 2(15,3%). Quality of life in the opinion of caregivers was better in 11(84,6%), and 10(76,3%) patients had a fewer behavioural disorders. In our series, callosotomy reduced seizure frequency in the majority of patients and led to a better behavioural outcome.