ElEctric shocks stoPPED MY Fits

Sophie Lennox’s life was transformed by pioneering surgery for seizures, writes LAURA MILNE

their lives,” he explains. “Seizures can be frightening and disruptive and can put children at risk of injury and, on rare occasions, death.”

The new technique, called cortical stimulation, identifies and corrects abnormal brain activity responsible for severe epileptic seizures.

“Under general anaesthetic, electrodes are placed on the surface of the brain beneath the skull,” explains Dr Valentin, a consultant neurologist and clinical lecturer in epilepsy at King’s College London.

“Carefully controlled electrical stimulation takes place during the hospital stay.”

In some patients, corrective “deep brain” stimulation is used after cortical stimulation has identified the area of the brain responsible for seizures. It is hoped that larger-scale clinical trials into cortical stimulation will follow.

In Sophie’s case it was only after numerous distressing tests that doctors discovered part of her brain was not working properly, due to a condition called cortical dysplasia which Anne describes as a “bit like a birthmark on the brain”.

It resulted in constant, abnormal electrical activity taking place in the area of the brain responsible for memory, learning and focus.

“We realised that medication could keep the seizures at bay but would never cure them,” says Anne.

The family had to face the terrifying prospect of their daughter having brain surgery, which carried significant risks, including the possibility that Sophie would lose the use of her right arm.

The first consultant the family saw believed that Sophie’s quality of life was not sufficiently impaired to warrant the risks of surgery but Anne says Sophie saw things very differently.

“She knew that she could fall and injure herself badly at any time. She was on massive doses of medication, schoolwork had become a real struggle and there was little prospect of her living independently in the future. She basically felt that her life was out of her control.”

Sophie was set on having surgery, so Anne and Andrew began researching options, which led them to King’s College Hospital in London.

Sophie endured a five-hour operation under general anaesthetic, where consultant neurosurgeon Richard Selway opened her skull and attached electrodes to her brain where cortical dysplasia was located.

Back on the ward Sophie had many seizures over the following days. A series of tests using electrical stimulation was carried out and Sophie’s seizures improved. Using the results from this stimulation, deep brain surgery was then scheduled for October last year.

Sophie bravely opted for a local anaesthetic and because she stayed awake, her surgeon was able to check the movement in her right hand throughout her operation.

During this procedure, deep brain electrodes continued to measure electrical activity in Sophie’s brain. As Mr Selway removed the area of cortical dysplasia, Sophie became completely seizure free straight away.

“The surgery has had a huge impact on what I’m able to do,” she says. “It has improved my independence hugely.

“Mum always worried a lot but now when I go out she doesn’t worry so much.

“I feel a lot safer. Now, if I’m around a lot of people, I don’t worry about having a seizure,” she adds.

Anne says: “This kind of precise surgery is incredible. It is such fine work. The difference it makes is phenomenal.

“The surgery that was proposed before we met the team at King’s was frighteningly imprecise by comparison. Sophie could still have epilepsy and have a paralysed arm too.”

With Sophie now studying for A-levels and enjoying a social life for the first time, Anne can picture a bright future for her daughter.

“We were so very fortunate to have had this opportunity,” she says. “Research such as this is life-changing for people like Sophie.”