Electrocorticography

Electrocorticography (ECOG), the intra-operative recording of cortical pote ntials, has played an important role in the surgical management of patients with medically refractory epilepsy. It has been used 1) to localize the ep ileptogenic tissue; 2) map out cortical functions; and 3) predict the succe ss of the surgery. Despite its common use, few studies have been done to pr ove its effectiveness in these areas. The technique used in children for recording ECOG is very similar to that u sed in adults except for the limitations imposed by the child's age. Anaest hesia must often be used. Based upon a computerized medical literature search, a review of this proce dure was done. Pre-resection localization, and post-resection prediction of outcome was done for temporal and extra-temporal resection, both lesional and nonlesional. Most of the available studies were in adult patients. All were retrospective in nature. Evidence for the role of pre-resection ECOG in determining the degree of re section felt necessary to obtain good clinical outcome was limited. Similar ly the post-resection ECOG predication of surgical outcome was restricted.