Deep brain stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus reduces the risk for status epilepticus in focal drug-resistant epilepsy

Abstract

Objective: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) is a third-line treatment option for patients with refractory focal epilepsy. However, the effect on recurrent episodes of status epilepticus (SE) after ANT-DBS implantation has not been systematically investigated. Here, we set out to determine whether ANT-DBS has a preventive clinical effect on the risk of SE in difficult-to-treat epilepsies.

Methods: We performed a retrospective, monocentric analysis in a cohort of patients with refractory epilepsy who received bilateral DBS implantation in the ANT (n = 24). Medical records were reviewed to compare the total number of SE in each patient before and after surgery.

Results: Out of 24 patients, 11 (46 %) had 20 episodes of SE preoperatively, 17 of which were unprovoked. Postoperatively, only 2 patients developed SE, one of which was provoked. The relative annual risk of SE in this cohort was reduced from 28.8 % (per patient year) preoperatively to 1.9 % postoperatively, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in SE incidence with ANT-DBS (p < 0.005). Survival analysis confirmed significantly longer status-free survival postoperatively.

Conclusion: ANT-DBS may be beneficial as a preventive intervention in patients with refractory epilepsy at high risk for recurrent SE.

Keywords: Annual risk; Anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT); Deep brain stimulation (DBS); Drug resistant epilepsy; Neuromodulation; Status epilepticus.