Abstract found on Wiley Online Library
Objective: Based on the promising results of randomized controlled trials, deep brain stimulation (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) are increasingly used in the treatment of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is an indication for either DBS of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) or temporal lobe (TL) RNS, but there are no studies that directly compare seizure benefits and adverse effects associated with these therapies in this patient population. We therefore examined all patients who underwent ANT-DBS or TL-RNS for drug-resistant TLE at our center.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who were treated with either ANT-DBS or TL-RNS for drug-resistant TLE with at least 12 months of follow-up. Along with clinical characteristics of each patient’s epilepsy, seizure frequency was recorded throughout each patient’s postoperative clinical course.
Results: 26 patients underwent ANT-DBS implantation, and 32 patients underwent TL-RNS for drug-resistant TLE. Epilepsy characteristics of both groups were similar. Patients who underwent ANT-DBS demonstrated a median seizure reduction of 58% at 12-15 months, compared to a median seizure reduction of 70% at 12-15 months in patients treated with TL-RNS (p > 0.05). The responder rate (percentage of patients with a 50% decrease or more in seizure frequency) was 54% for ANT-DBS and 56% for TL-RNS (p > 0.05). Incidence of complications and stimulation-related side effects did not significantly differ between therapies.
Significance: We demonstrate in our single-center experience that patients with drug-resistant TLE benefit similarly from either anterior nucleus of the thalamus deep brain stimulation (ANT-DBS) or temporal lobe responsive neurostimulation (TL-RNS). Selection of either ANT-DBS or TL-RNS may therefore depend more heavily on patient and provider preference, as each has unique capabilities and configurations. Future studies will consider subgroup analyses to determine if specific patients have greater seizure frequency reduction from one form of neuromodulation strategy over another.