Disconnective hemispherotomy: technique and operative highlights.

Abstract

Hemispherectomy is an effective procedure used in the treatment of drug-resistant hemispheric epilepsy, especially in the pediatric population. A number of resective and disconnective techniques are used, and selection of surgical strategy is paramount to achieving successful results. Notably, disconnective (or functional) hemispherotomy maximizes the benefits of safe, surgical disconnection while minimizing hemispheric tissue resection, thereby avoiding some of the perioperative factors contributing to morbidity in traditional anatomical hemispherectomy procedures. In this video, the authors outline the principal surgical steps of disconnective hemispherotomy and highlight important technical factors leading to optimal outcomes in patients with refractory, oftentimes catastrophic, hemispheric epilepsy. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2024.4.FOCVID2436.