A lesson in ethics.
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Dentist-Patient Relations↗
Biomedical subjects
H Morris
Publications and source records attributed to H Morris.
Epinephrine and insulin effects. II. ACTH and cortisol.
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Adolescent↗
Intracarotid amobarbital procedure: II. Lateralizing value in evaluation for temporal lobectomy.
The intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP) was assessed for lateralizing value in 37 patients who later had temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy. Among patients who failed IAP memory testing on one side (defined as a retention score for test items at least 20% lower on one side than the other), significantly more patients failed the injection contralateral (16 of 20, 80%) than ipsilateral (4 of 20, 20%) to the side of later resection (p = 0.008). In addition, preoperative EEG evidence of bilateral temporal epileptogenicity was significantly more frequent among patients who failed the ipsilateral IAP injection (2 of 4, 50%) than among patients who passed the ipsilateral IAP injection (2 of 33, 6%) (p = 0.050). Finally, failure of the contralateral IAP injection involved significantly more severe amnesia for test items (median retention score 25%) than did failure of the ipsilateral injection (median retention score 59%) (p = 0.047). Profoundly low retention scores less than 33% occurred only with contralateral injection. These findings suggest that the IAP has some adjunctive lateralizing value for the epileptogenic hemisphere in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, especially when the retention score with one injection is profoundly low.
Adolescent↗
Mirror focus: function of seizure frequency and influence on outcome after surgery.
The concept of the mirror focus (MF) implies that an actively discharging epileptiform region may induce similar paroxysmal behavior in a homologous site. In a group of patients with complex partial seizures (CPS) we investigated whether occurrence of a MF was influenced by certain clinical factors and whether surgical outcome was influenced by the presence of an MF. Factors studied included age at onset, duration, and total number of seizures. Patients had had CPS for > 3 years and had pathologically proven temporal lobe neoplasms. Seizure frequency was estimated by the history-taking physician. We estimated total seizure number by multiplying frequency by duration. Seven patients had MF, and 15 did not. Mean age at onset of seizures, duration of seizure disorder, and total seizure number did not vary statistically between the two groups of patients. All patients with an MF except 1 were seizure-free at follow-up. Ten of the 15 patients without MF were seizure-free. Three patients who were not seizure-free had had subtotal resection owing to tumor overlap with eloquent cortex. We conclude that an MF is not a contraindication to operation even when the preponderance of interictal spike activity is contralateral to the tumor or when seizures appear to arise from the MF on scalp EEG.
Adolescent↗
Intracarotid amobarbital (Wada) test for language dominance: correlation with results of cortical stimulation.
Eighty-eight patients had bilateral intracarotid amobarbital (Wada) testing to determine hemispheric dominance for language in preparation for epilepsy surgery, as well as unilateral extraoperative cortical electrical stimulation using subdural electrode arrays. In none of the patients with left dominance by Wada testing were language areas found with right-sided stimulation, but two patients with right dominance by Wada testing had language areas mapped on the left side. These findings suggest that left dominance by Wada testing is strong evidence for exclusive lateralization of language function in the left hemisphere, but there is concern about the ability of the Wada test to exclude the possibility of some left-sided language function despite apparent right-sided dominance. Patients with left dominance on Wada testing do not need cortical stimulation before extensive right temporal lobectomy, but we believe that patients with right or bilateral dominance on Wada testing should have cortical stimulation for localization of language areas if extensive left or right temporal or frontal resection is planned.
Amobarbital↗
Factitious anisocoria and orthostatic hypotension.
A 30-year-old woman employed by a veterinarian had many episodes of syncope. At presentation, she had anisocoria and premature ventricular beats. Hemodynamic workup revealed only moderate peripheral venous pooling. The circumstances of the fainting spells and eye examination led to the identification of medications which, if taken surreptitiously, will induce the perplexing clinical picture which the patient presented.
Adult↗
Epilepsy update: new medical and surgical treatment options.
A variety of new drugs and surgical options are available for the treatment of epilepsy. Yet the cornerstone of therapy remains the appropriate classification of different types of seizures. This review explores the current knowledge about this common neurological problem and presents an outline for making the diagnosis, controlling the seizures, and preserving quality of life.
Adolescent↗