Abstract found on Wiley Online Library
Objective: Several instruments and outcomes measures have been reported in pediatric patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. The objective of this systematic review is to summarize, evaluate, and quantify outcome metrics for the surgical treatment of pediatric epilepsy that address seizure frequency, neuropsychological, and health-related quality of life (HRQL).
Methods: We performed a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines to identify publications between 2010 and June 2021 from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews that report clinical outcomes in pediatric epilepsy surgery.
Results: Eighty-one papers were included for review. Overall, rates of post-operative seizure frequency were the most common metric reported (n=?78 studies, 96%). Among the seizure frequency metrics, the Engel Epilepsy Surgery Outcome Scale (n=?48 studies, 59%) was most commonly reported. Neuropsychological outcomes, performed in 32 studies (40%) were assessed using 36 different named metrics. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) outcomes were performed in 16 studies (20%) using 13 different metrics. Forty-six studies (57%) reported postoperative changes in anti-epileptic drug (AED) regimen and time-to-event analysis was performed in 15 (19%) studies. Only 13 outcomes metrics (1/5 seizure frequency, 6/13 HRQL, 6/36 neuropsychological) have been validated for use in pediatric patients with epilepsy and only 13 have been assessed through reliability studies (4/5 seizure frequency, 6/13 HRQL, and 3/36 neuropsychological). Of the 81 included studies, 17 (21%) used at least one validated metric.
Significance: Outcome variable metrics in pediatric epilepsy surgery are highly variable. While nearly all studies report seizure frequency, there is considerable variation in reporting. Health-related quality of life and neuropsychological outcomes are less frequently and much more heterogeneously reported. Reliable and validated outcomes metrics should be used to increase standardization and accuracy of reporting outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing epilepsy surgery.