ASSFN Position Statement on Deep Brain Stimulation for Medication-Refractory Epilepsy

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2022

Publication Title

Neurosurgery

Abstract

Neuromodulation has taken a foothold in the landscape of surgical treatment for medically refractory epilepsies and offers additional surgical treatment options for patients who are not candidates for resective/ablative surgery. Approximately one third of patients with epilepsy suffer with medication-refractory epilepsy. A persistent underuse of epilepsy surgery exists. Neuromodulation treatments including deep brain stimulation (DBS) expand the surgical options for patients with epilepsy and provide options for patients who are not candidates for resective surgery. DBS of the bilateral anterior nucleus of the thalamus is an Food and Drug Administration-approved, safe, and efficacious treatment option for patients with refractory focal epilepsy. The purpose of this consensus position statement is to summarize evidence, provide recommendations, and identify indications and populations for future investigation in DBS for epilepsy. The recommendations of the American Society of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgeons are based on several randomized and blinded clinical trials with high-quality data to support the use of DBS to the anterior nucleus of the thalamus for the treatment of refractory focal-onset seizures.

Medical Subject Headings

Deep Brain Stimulation; Drug Resistant Epilepsy; Epilepsy; Humans; Thalamus; Treatment Outcome

PubMed ID

35271523

ePublication

ePub ahead of print

Volume

90

Issue

5

First Page

636

Last Page

641

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