The NeuroPace RNS® System and Surgical Options Ryan B. Kochanski, MD Clinical Fellow in Functional and Epilepsy Surgery Rush University Medical Center Sepehr Sani, MD Assistant Professor November 12, 2016
Disclosures None
Objectives Provide an overview of the RNS system Discuss indications for implantation Describe the surgical procedure Discuss long term outcome data
NeuroPace RNS® System FDA approved in 2013 for those 18 years of age or older with partial onset seizures who have undergone diagnostic testing to identify up to two areas of the brain where seizures originate and have not responded to two or more antiepileptic medications. The RNS System is used in patients who average three or more disabling seizures per month.
What is Responsive Neurostimulation? Two major functions that comprise the device: Recording of brain wave activity i.e. long term EEG recording Electrical stimulation at the location of the implanted electrode to abort a seizure when it is detected
Continuous Long Term Recording The device continuously records and stores the electrophysiological information from the electrode(s) (EEG data) This stored data can be then transferred to an online Patient Data Management System using the interrogating device Physicians can access and analyze this information remotely
Stimulation The device can be programmed to deliver an electrical stimulus when seizure activity is recognized in order to “break” the seizure Stimulation settings can be adjusted by the physician depending on response Different than VNS which provides non-selective stimulation
Indications for Surgery 18 years of age or older Poor seizure control despite 2 or more anti-seizure medications Frequent and disabling partial onset seizures localized to 2 or less foci based on preoperative testing
Pre-Operative Planning An MRI of the brain is obtained as an outpatient On the day of surgery, a head frame is placed on the patient and a CT scan is obtained The MRI and CT scan are then merged using a planning software The planning software is used to create a surgical plan for the placement of the lead(s)
Surgery
Surgery – Battery placement
Case Illustration 25 year old male with a history of epilepsy since childhood who underwent a left temporal lobectomy in ‘03 and left vagal nerve stimulator placement in ‘06 Seizures are characterized by loss of awareness and arrest of activity, where he suddenly stops and stands still followed by hand shaking or finger tapping. EEG – Continuous, irregular, right greater than left temporal slow wave activity with occasional epileptiform discharges on the right and left. Findings suggestive of bilateral temporal epilepsy.
Bilateral Parahippocampal Depth Leads Surgical Plan Bilateral Parahippocampal Depth Leads
Post-Operative Imaging
Surgical Complications Bergey et al. Neurology. 2016
Long term outcomes Bergey et al. Neurology. 2016
C.U.R.E. Continuous recording and storage of EEG data can allow for better localization of seizure activity With better seizure localization, some patients who were initially not thought to be candidates for resective surgery have become surgical candidates
Q & A
References Bergey GK, Morrell MJ, Mizrahi EM, Goldman A, King-Stephens D, Nair D, et al.: Long-term treatment with responsive brain stimulation in adults with refractory partial seizures. Neurology 2015 Feb 24;84:810–817. DiLorenzo DJ, Mangubat EZ, Rossi MA, Byrne RW: Chronic unlimited recording electrocorticography-guided resective epilepsy surgery: technology-enabled enhanced fidelity in seizure focus localization with improved surgical efficacy. J Neurosurg 2014 Jun;120:1402–1414. Heck CN, King-Stephens D, Massey AD, Nair DR, Jobst BC, Barkley GL, et al.: Two-year seizure reduction in adults with medically intractable partial onset epilepsy treated with responsive neurostimulation: final results of the RNS System Pivotal trial. Epilepsia 2014 Mar;55:432–441. Morrell MJ, RNS System in Epilepsy Study Group: Responsive cortical stimulation for the treatment of medically intractable partial epilepsy. Neurology 2011 Sep 27;77:1295–1304. Sun FT, Morrell MJ: The RNS System: responsive cortical stimulation for the treatment of refractory partial epilepsy. Expert Rev Med Devices 2014 Nov;11:563–572. Thomas GP, Jobst BC: Critical review of the responsive neurostimulator system for epilepsy. Med Devices (Auckl) 2015 Oct 1;8:405–411.