Surgical management of epilepsy

The fact that epilepsy can be cured or ameliorated with surgery is an often neglected and overlooked aspect of modern management. Epilepsy affects almost 50 million people worldwide. One-third of people who suffer from epilepsy are refractory to medication alone. It is this group of patients who may benefit from epilepsy surgery, which can be divided into three main categories, i.e. resection procedures, disconnection procedures, and neuromodulation procedures. The goal of surgery in epilepsy is to remove the epileptogenic region from the brain, or to disconnect it and thereby prevent spread to other parts of the brain. In cases where this is not possible owing to the location of the epileptic focus, certain neuromodulation techniques may benefit the patient. Successful outcomes of epilepsy surgery techniques vary from 50% to 80% in rendering patients free of their epilepsy; many more patients can expect improvement in the severity or frequency of their disabling seizures. The outcome depends on factors such as age, location of the epileptogenic zone, histology and cause of the seizures. Patients undergo a detailed and prolonged work-up to determine candidacy and to decide on the safest technique that will lead to the best outcomes. An experienced team should perform the surgery. This team should consist of multiple members who can attend to the medical, social, psychological and reintegration needs of the patient before and after surgery.