Epilepsy surgery for 5- to 18-year old patients with medically refractory epilepsy--is it cost efficient?

This study was designed to examine the question of whether cortical resection for children and adolescents with medically refractory epilepsy was less costly and more effective than the medical alternative. The study design used a decision analysis model. Data on outcome probabilities were based on literature review and local experience. The time span of the study was 25 years. Though the initial costs for the surgically treated group were significantly greater than those for the medical group, the time-cost lines intersected at 14 years after surgery. Surgery remained cheaper thereafter.