Alberta Center for Outcome Research in Neurosurgery Kids (ACORN Kids)

Comparative effectiveness of surgical epilepsy mapping paradigms:

Study title: A comparative effectiveness study of two surgical epilepsy mapping paradigms in children: Robotic stereotactic-guided depth electrodes versus Subdural grids 

Purpose of this study: In the cases where non-invasive mapping of brain region has been unable to define the precise location of seizure initiation, neurosurgeons invasively map the exact zone. Currently, two methods are available for invasive mapping: traditional subdural grid and robotic stereotactic electrodes. The objective of this study is to identify any association between the epilepsy mapping paradigms and the outcomes of postoperative seizure frequency, surgical complications, geographic location/median household income as well as health service utilization and cost.    

Participating site(s):

University of Calgary/Alberta Children's Hospital.

Current status:

The data collection has been completed during summer 2017. A preliminary analysis showed that the robotic technique is associated with less postoperative complications and more cost-effective than the other method. The preliminary findings of this study have been presented at the AANS/CNS pediatric sectionmeeting at Houston. The final analysis is underway for peer-reviewed publication.      

ACORN Kids studies

• PS-ETV+CPC vs Shunt
  
• Comparative effectiveness of surgical epilepsy mapping paradigms
• ​Shunt infection rate: pre- and post-implementation of HCRN protocol
  

Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) studies

Canadian Pediatric Neurosurgery Study Group (CPNSG) studies​

Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCNS) residents research studies