Prognosis factors evaluation on the surgical treatment of the pediatric epilepsy in a series of cases of the neurosurgery discipline of Escola Paulista de Medicina

• Grant number: 14/24638-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2016
• End date: April 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Silva Centeno
• Grantee: Daniela Macêdo de Moraes
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epilepsy is the most common neurologic disorder worldwide, affecting 60 million people. It is characterized by the presence of recurrent non-provoked seizures, with possible psychiatric and psychosocial consequences. In pediatric patients, there can be damage in neurodevelopment and cognition as well. As the medical refractoriness is about one third of the cases, the search for alternative treatments is essential. At that point, the surgery for epilepsy comes as an excellent alternative, with efficacy proven in well-selected patients, with 91% success rate. However, international literature is not clear about which predisposing factors are favorable for a good post-operative prognosis, especially in pediatric patients. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to characterize the pediatric epilepsy patients of the neurosurgery series of Escola Paulista de Medicina, currently with 60 pediatric patients, with the objective of analyzing which factors determine a good surgical prognosis. We will analyse demographic, clinic, image and surgical factors of good prognosis. By this characterization, our main goal in this project is to achieve a more precise and efficient inclusion of patients as candidates for neurosurgery. Finally, a faster therapeutic approach will be made possible and, thereby, better results on frequency of seizures and quality of life for both patients and their families.