What is a Hippocampectomy?
A hippocampectomy, often part of an amygdalohippocampectomy, is a complex brain surgery to remove the hippocampus (and sometimes the amygdala) to treat severe, drug-resistant epilepsy, especially medial temporal lobe epilepsy, by eliminating seizure origins. While effective in stopping seizures, it carries risks like memory impairment and visual defects because these brain structures are crucial for memory, emotions, and spatial navigation, making it a last-resort treatment.What is hippocampectomy?
It consists of the removal of the hippocampus, which has a role in memory, spatial awareness, and navigation, and the amygdalae, which have a role in the processing and memory of emotional reactions, both structures forming part of the limbic system of the brain. Amygdalohippocampectomy. Hippocampi.What happens when you get your hippocampus removed?
Removing the hippocampus, especially both sides, primarily causes severe anterograde amnesia, the inability to form new long-term declarative (facts, events) memories, as it's crucial for transferring short-term to long-term storage, though procedural (how-to) memory remains intact. Patients also suffer significant spatial memory deficits, struggling to navigate even familiar environments, along with potential anxiety or depression.What is the most successful epilepsy surgery?
Temporal Lobe ResectionRemoves the anterior temporal lobe and portions of the amygdala and hippocampus (a common site to cause partial complex epilepsy, located under your temple). This is the most successful type of epilepsy surgery overall. At 1 year, 80 percent of patients are seizure-free.
Can a person live without a hippocampus?
Yes, you can live without a hippocampus, but it severely impacts your ability to form new long-term memories (anterograde amnesia), though intellect, personality, and basic life functions remain intact, as famously shown by patient H.M., who had his hippocampi removed for epilepsy. Life becomes challenging, requiring constant reminders for daily routines, but it's considered a viable trade-off for eliminating debilitating seizures, with patients often living relatively normal lives despite memory loss.2-Minute Neuroscience: The Hippocampus
What is the riskiest brain surgery?
Brain surgeryIn fact, one of the riskiest surgeries that is often performed on the skull and brain is called a craniectomy. This type of surgery requires the doctors to remove part of your skull to help release swelling, bleeding, and pressure that the brain is experiencing.
Can a damaged hippocampus be repaired?
Yes, the hippocampus can be repaired and regenerated through natural processes like neurogenesis (creating new brain cells) and plasticity, aided by lifestyle changes (exercise, good sleep, learning) and treatments (medication, therapy) that stimulate this growth and connectivity, reversing shrinkage and improving function, though severe damage like in advanced dementia remains challenging.What is the miracle drug for epilepsy?
1936 – Phenytoin – Known as the “miracle” drug of its day. This drug was used as a first choice, or when phenobarbital failed. it was one of the most widely used drugs. 1964 – Valporate – The discovery of valporates's effectiveness as an anti-seizure drug created a new therapeutic paradigm.How risky is brain surgery for epilepsy?
When it comes to epilepsy-related surgery, the risks will very much depend on the type of surgery being performed and any other health matters specific to you. Possible risks may include problems with memory, a partial loss of sight, weakness on one side of the body, depression or other mood problems.What is the most serious type of epilepsy?
There isn't one single "worst" type, but severe, difficult-to-treat epilepsy syndromes like Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) and Dravet Syndrome are often cited due to their early onset, multiple seizure types (including dangerous drop attacks), treatment resistance, and significant impact on development and daily life, leading to lifelong challenges and risks like Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).Can you replace a hippocampus?
A hippocampus prosthesis is a type of cognitive prosthesis (a prosthesis implanted into the nervous system in order to improve or replace the function of damaged brain tissue).Who was the guy whose hippocampus was removed?
As a result of his memory loss and his lack of ability to remember, as a result of the lobotomy surgery which severed his hippocampi, Henry Molaison was known as "the man who could not remember". Researchers argue over the extent of this impairment.Why did Cameron have to have half the brain removed?
Right before Easter of 2023, for four days, Cameron complained of dizziness, was sporadically vomiting, and then started walking with his head tilted. After various MRIs, it was discovered that Cam had a 2.5 cm brain tumor in this 4th ventricle.What happens if you get your hippocampus removed?
Removing the hippocampus, especially both sides, primarily causes severe anterograde amnesia, the inability to form new long-term declarative (facts, events) memories, as it's crucial for transferring short-term to long-term storage, though procedural (how-to) memory remains intact. Patients also suffer significant spatial memory deficits, struggling to navigate even familiar environments, along with potential anxiety or depression.What are the 3 C's of epilepsy?
The "3 Cs" in epilepsy refer to simple seizure first-aid steps: Calm, Cushion, Call, guiding bystanders to stay calm, cushion the person's head to prevent injury, and call emergency services if the seizure lasts over five minutes or if it's the person's first seizure. These steps help manage the situation, protect the individual, and ensure proper medical attention is sought when necessary.Can you live a normal life after a hemispherectomy?
You may wonder what your child's life will be like after a hemispherectomy. They may need this support after surgery, but the side of their brain that works well has already taken over for the affected side. Outcomes are good for walking, reading and behavioral issues, but some vision loss will happen.What is the rule of 3 for seizures?
The "Rule of Three" for seizures has two main meanings: the 3 S's (Stay, Safe, Side) for first aid, reminding you to stay with the person, make them safe, and put them on their side; and a more complex clinical definition by the ILAE (epilepsy league) for declaring seizure freedom, meaning a patient is seizure-free if they haven't had a seizure for three times their longest gap between seizures in the last year, suggesting successful treatment. A common medical trigger for emergency action is three or more seizures in 24 hours, or any seizure over 5 minutes.What is the number one trigger for seizures?
While many factors can trigger seizures, missing medications, stress, and sleep deprivation are consistently cited as the top triggers, with missed meds often being the most common cause of breakthrough seizures, followed closely by emotional stress for many people with epilepsy.Is epilepsy a form of brain damage?
For many years we have known that in epilepsy certain nerve cells are lost in specific areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, but these studies are showing that the amount of damage may depend upon the age at which the epilepsy began.What is the best treatment for epilepsy in the world?
The main treatment for epilepsy is medicine to prevent seizures, called anti-epileptic or anti-seizure medicine. You may also be given medicine to use as emergency treatment if you have a seizure that lasts longer than usual.Is gabapentin or Keppra better for seizures?
Gabapentin (Neurontin) and Levetiracetam (Keppra) are both antiepileptic medications, but they have some key differences. Gabapentin is used to treat certain seizures and nerve pain, while Levetiracetam is used for various types of seizures, including partial-onset, myoclonic, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures.What do people with epilepsy struggle with?
For example, you may experience mood problems, changes related to seizure timing or side effects of medicines. Others may experience issues with sleeping, thinking and memory, or socializing with others. In rare instances, early death or SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) can occur.Does walking improve the hippocampus?
Results: Overall, walking had positive effects on hippocampal volumes. Several studies found benefits of higher-intensity and greater amounts of walking for total hippocampal volume.What vitamin helps the hippocampus?
Its overall contribution to healthy brain development renders also likely a role for vitamin D in the developing hippocampus.Which person is most likely to suffer from damage to the hippocampus?
There is evidence that humans having experienced severe, long-lasting traumatic stress show atrophy of the hippocampus more than of other parts of the brain. These effects show up in post-traumatic stress disorder, and they may contribute to the hippocampal atrophy reported in schizophrenia and severe depression.
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