Epilepsy is a condition that can be well controlled in a vast majority of patients. However, 5-10% patients do not achieve adequate seizure control despite trial of best anti-epileptic drug combinations. Such patients are categorized as having refractory or intractable Epilepsy. These patients require special evaluation for treatments other than medical management alone.
Q.What is epilepsy surgery?
Epilepsy surgery is a special kind of brain surgery wherein the small part of brain which is responsible for uncontrolled epilepsy can be safely removed without causing any harm.
Q.What can be done for medically refractory epilepsy?
These patients definitely require pre-surgical evaluation for the possibility of surgery to control their seizures.
Q.What is presurgical evaluation?
Pre-surgical evaluation includes Video-EEG monitoring, MRI Brain (epilepsy protocol), PET/SPECT -in selected cases, neuropsychological evaluation and psychiatric evaluation in selected cases. Once the work-up is over, this data is discussed in multidisciplinary patient management conference which includes epileptologist, neurosurgeon, neuro-radiologist , neuro-psychiatrist etc.
Depending on the particular clinical situation, one of the following surgical procedures is chosen by the Medical team at our affiliate hospital. These operations either aim to resect the disease area of the brain, to disconnect it from other areas so as to relieve the seizures, or to lessen their impact.
Carefully selected patients with intractable epilepsy can have a gratifying outcome in majority of cases. The 2 key points that enable proper selection of cases are:
Once the above two conditions are met, the patient can be further counselled and likely outcome explained keeping in mind the specific situation. For example, surgery for seizure focus in temporal lobe of the brain has a better outcome than other areas. Similarly, cases wherein MRI shows abnormal area have greater chances of success than those in which MRI is completely normal.
After three years of pain, difficulty walking, and an inability to work, I have finally entered a new hopeful and exciting chapter in my life. Because of the absolute impossibility of finding a facility that could help me, I searched on the internet and found my surgeon Dr Sarup an exceptional and experienced surgeon , a solution that has changed my life.
The surgery was painless for me. The rehabilitation was strict and very effective, the nursing and the support staff were all trained, kind and infinitely caring.
Warm Regards
-Ms Njoku Joyce, Nigeria
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