1. 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

2. Disclosures
None

3. Objectives Provide an overview of the RNS system
Discuss indications for implantation
Describe the surgical procedure
Discuss long term outcome data

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. Surgery

11. Surgery – Battery placement

12. 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.

13. Bilateral Parahippocampal Depth Leads
Surgical Plan
Bilateral Parahippocampal Depth Leads

14. Post-Operative Imaging

15. Surgical Complications
Bergey et al. Neurology. 2016

16. Long term outcomes
Bergey et al. Neurology. 2016

17. 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

18. Q & A

19. 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.