Cost-benefit of epilepsy surgery

A cost-benefit study of Epilepsy Surgery (ES) evaluates the monetary consequences of the societal gain by reduced production loss. High direct cost of ES has been addressed by suggesting simpler diagnostics, preference for certain investigations, and weighing the direct cost against the postoperative savings. New MRI technology has simplified diagnostics and, currently, the surgical procedure is more accurate. A shortlasting procedure will reduce theater cost and hospitalization. Resective procedures achieve freedom from seizures in 45-90%. Postoperative worsening may be burdened by permanent morbidity, or may cause death. Re-operation, an extra direct cost, yields freedom from seizures in 45-50%, being thereby justified health economically. If ES stops seizures at the expense of impaired cognition, it is of limited help in restoring quality of life. In adults, surgery often is performed late, and the social status may have declined for the patient. Children with epilepsy and their families experience social restrictions difficult to normalize. A successful outcome unaccompanied by other improvement in life may turn into disappointment. Operated patients employed preoperatively continue to be so postoperatively, or maintain their employment which may also improve, an effect experienced even after a re-operation. But, a limited gain in employment after surgery has likewise been reported. Early surgery has a positive effect on education and occupation. The postoperative income of adults may increase significantly. Similarly, successful pediatric surgery is cost-effective for the child and the family. Using seizure free rate as effectiveness measure shows that ES is cheaper than AED treatment alone. The high cost for advanced diagnostics should be seen in a long-term perspective. The reduction in life long indirect cost after successful pediatric surgery has been evaluated.