Team Blitz India
Aboy with severe epilepsy has become the first patient in the world to trial a new device fitted in their skull to control seizures, according to a BBC report. The neurostimulator, which sends electrical signals deep into his brain, has reduced Oran Knowlson’s daytime seizures by 80%. His mother, Justine, told the BBC he was happier and had a “much better quality of life”.
The surgery was carried out in October as part of a trial at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London when Oran – who is now 13 – was 12.
Daily seizures
Oran, from Somerset, has LennoxGastaut syndrome, a treatmentresistant form of epilepsy which he developed at the age of three. Since then he has suffered several daily seizures ranging from two dozen to hundreds.
When we first spoke to Oran’s mum last autumn, prior to surgery, she explained how Oran’s epilepsy dominated his life: “It has robbed him of all of his childhood.” She told us Oran had a range of different seizures, including those where he fell to the ground, shook violently, and lost consciousness. She said at times he would stop breathing and require emergency medication to resuscitate him.
Multiple hurdles
Oran has autism and ADHD, but Justine says his epilepsy is by far the biggest hurdle: “I had a fairly bright three-yearold, and within a few months of his seizures commencing he deteriorated rapidly, and lost a lot of skills.” Oran is part of the CADET project – a series of trials assessing the safety and effectiveness of deep brain stimulation for severe epilepsy.
The partnership involves Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College London, King’s College Hospital and the University of Oxford. The Picostim neurotransmitter is made by UK company Amber Therapeutics. Epilepsy seizures are triggered by abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain. The device, which emits a constant pulse of current, aims to block or disrupt the abnormal signals. The surgery, which lasted around eight hours, took place in October 2023.
