Minimising visual system degeneration after hemidisconnection surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Minimising visual system degeneration following hemidisconnection surgery in children – piloting an imaging informed intervention
IRAS ID
261668
Contact name
Chris A. Clark
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Epilepsy is a medical condition in which the cells of the brain emit abnormal electrical activity causing seizures. Ongoing seizures damage the brain leading to decline of brain functions such as cognition. One treatment option is surgical removal of parts of the brain associated with the abnormal electrical activity. One such operation involves removal of one of the hemispheres of the brain, known as hemidisconnection. Although this operation may eliminate or reduce seizure activity it may result in damage to brain functions such as vision. This study consists of three parts: firstly, we will use imaging techniques to measure brain structure before and after surgery together with measures of visual function to determine short-term visual outcome and how this relates with brain structure. Secondly, we will recruit patients in whom hemidisconnection was performed more than 5 years ago to examine the long-term effects on visual function and brain structure, building on our pilot investigations. Thirdly we will work with visual rehabilitation training experts to set up a visual function intervention in a cohort of children undergoing hemidisconnection to establish feasibility and to lay the foundation for a trial aimed at achieving the best possible visual function shortly after surgery.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0947
Date of REC Opinion
6 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion