High frequency oscillations in the intra-operative ECoG to guide epilepsy surgery ("The HFO Trial"): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Maryse A van 't Klooster, Frans S S Leijten, Geertjan Huiskamp, Hanneke E Ronner, Johannes C Baayen, Peter C van Rijen, Martinus J C Eijkemans, Kees P J Braun, Maeike Zijlmans,

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intra-operative electrocorticography, based on interictal spikes and spike patterns, is performed to optimize delineation of the epileptogenic tissue during epilepsy surgery. High frequency oscillations (HFOs, 80-500 Hz) have been identified as more precise biomarkers for epileptogenic tissue. The aim of the trial is to determine prospectively if ioECoG-tailored surgery using HFOs, instead of interictal spikes, is feasible and will lead to an equal or better seizure outcome. METHODS\

DESIGN: We present a single-blinded multi-center randomized controlled trial "The HFO Trial" including patients with refractory focal epilepsy of all ages who undergo surgery with intra-operative electrocorticography. Surgery is tailored by HFOs (arm 1) or interictal spikes (arm 2) in the intra-operative electrocorticography. Primary outcome is post-operative outcome after 1 year, dichotomized in seizure freedom (Engel 1A and 1B) versus seizure recurrence (Engel 1C-4). Secondary outcome measures are the volume of resected tissue, neurologic deficits, surgical duration and complications, cognition and quality of life. The trial has a non-inferiority design to test feasibility and at least equal performance in terms of surgical outcome. We aim to include 78 patients within 3 years including 1 year follow-up. Results are expected in 2018.

DISCUSSION: This trial provides a transition from observational research towards clinical interventions using HFOs. We address methodological difficulties in designing this trial. We expect that the use of HFOs as a biomarker for tailoring will increase the success rate of epilepsy surgery while reducing resection volume. This may reduce neurological deficits and yield a better quality of life. Future technical developments, such as validated automatic online HFO identification, could, together with the attained clinical knowledge, lead to a new objective tailoring approach in epilepsy surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered at the US National Institutes of Health (ClinicalTrials.gov) #NCT02207673 (31 July 2014) and the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects, The Netherlands #NL44257.041.13 (18 March 2014).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)422
JournalTrials [E]
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Keywords

  • Epilepsy surgery
  • Intra-operative electrocorticography
  • ECoG
  • Pediatric epilepsy
  • Epileptogenic zone
  • High frequency oscillations
  • HFOs
  • Randomized controlled trial

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'High frequency oscillations in the intra-operative ECoG to guide epilepsy surgery ("The HFO Trial"): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this