Functional hemispherectomy
A surgical procedure that disconnects one brain hemisphere while leaving most tissue in place. Used for severe hemispheric epilepsy.
Full Definition
Functional hemispherectomy is a sophisticated neurosurgical procedure used to treat catastrophic epilepsy arising from one cerebral hemisphere, typically in children with hemispheric syndromes. Unlike anatomical hemispherectomy, this technique disconnects the diseased hemisphere from the rest of the brain while leaving most tissue in place to avoid complications like hemosiderosis. The procedure involves corpus callosotomy, disconnection of frontal and parietal regions, and temporal lobectomy. Despite the dramatic nature of the surgery, many patients achieve seizure freedom with surprisingly good functional outcomes due to brain plasticity.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from anatomical hemispherectomy which involves tissue removal.
In Context
- "Functional hemispherectomy was considered for the patient with Rasmussen encephalitis and intractable seizures." — Pediatric epilepsy surgery conference
- "Post-operative imaging confirmed complete functional hemispherectomy with successful hemispheric disconnection." — Surgical outcome report