[Effect of cerebellar cortical electrostimulation on the frequency of epileptic seizures in severe forms of epilepsy]

Abstract

The authors studied 14 patients with epileptic seizures occurring from one to about 20 daily despite monitored pharmacological treatment. Two pairs of silver, properly insulated electrodes were applied to the subtentorial surface of both cerebellar hemispheres through burr-holes. The cerebellar surface was stimulated once daily for 30 min to 1 hour with electrical current at 10 Hz, 1 msec, 1-7 V during 10 to 16 days. During that time epileptic seizures disappeared completely in 5 cases, in 6 patients their frequency was reduced to one seizure every several days, in 2 cases the improvement was slight and one patient failed to improve. After cessation of electrostimulation and removal of electrodes in most cases the seizures increased again in frequently gradually. Twelve months after the procedure in only 4 cases a significant improvement remained. The authors believe that this method of cerebellar cortex stimulation should be regarded as a trial before making decision about chronic implantation of cerebellar electrostimulator for selecting patients responding well to this treatment. This group amounts to about 30% of such drug-resistant cases.