The positive prognosis for the case of Ms. T.T.T.H, who has had epilepsy for 20 years, has given hope for a comprehensive treatment for epileptic patients.
On October 20, 2023, the medical team of Vinmec Central Park successfully performed epilepsy surgery using a new technical method— electrocorticography (EcoG) and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM). After the surgery, the patient recovered well and was discharged from the hospital on October 28, 2023.
This is the first unit in Vietnam to successfully apply the IONM technique to identify the language cortex in epilepsy surgery, opening up a new, accurate, and effective treatment direction for patients.
Vinmec's new method offers hope for epilepsy patients.
Despite receiving numerous treatments , Patient T.T.T.H. has suffered from epilepsy for 20 years. Due to the sequelae after encephalitis at the age of 3, the patient had a large damaged brain area, and the cerebral cortex structure had been rearranged.
The challenge for Vinmec doctors was how to surgically remove as much of the epileptic lesion as possible without harming the cerebral cortex responsible for the patient's motor and language functions. Extreme precision was required during the surgery because even a slight deviation could result in paralysis and the loss of speech.
The Vinmec medical team employed electrodes to directly measure intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring (IONM) and electroencephalography on the cerebral cortex to ensure that the patient received precise medication without causing damage. This technique removed the epileptic focus accurately without affecting the motor and language brain areas. Failure to use this method greatly increases the risk of paralysis or speech loss following surgery.
The patient regained consciousness one day after the surgery, and three days later, he was fully awake, flexible, able to eat and use the restroom. The patient did not experience any additional seizures in the subsequent days. Seven days following the surgery, the patient was discharged from the hospital.
These indicators suggest a promising long-term prognosis. This instills faith in other individuals with epilepsy regarding the potential for a complete cure of their disease.
The epilepsy examination and treatment process at Vinmec
With a team of highly specialized doctors and modern equipment, Vinmec is proud to be the unit that owns a new surgical technique to accurately and completely cure epilepsy. This helps patients quickly return to a normal, healthy, and joyful life.
Before epilepsy surgery, patients need to perform specialized tests and examinations. Based on these results, doctors will determine the appropriate surgical conditions, surgical location, and understand in detail how the specific brain area works. Depending on the test's requirements, the doctor may perform the procedure on an outpatient basis or require hospitalization.
Standard tests used to determine the origin of the epileptic focus:
- Electroencephalogram (EEG).
- Video electroencephalogram (EEG video) to record the seizure and analyze the brain waves at the time of the seizure.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with special pulse sequences for epileptic patients.
Additional tests to localize the source of the seizure and determine the nature of the abnormal activity:
- Invasive EEG.
- Video EEG with invasive electrodes.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) Depending on the location of the seizure focus, your doctor may order tests to pinpoint the areas of the brain that control language, sensory function, movement, or other important functions. Tests may include:
- Functional MRI
- Wada test.
- Brain mapping
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