Surgical decisions regarding medically intractable epilepsy

The neurosurgeon's primary intention in epilepsy care is to cure patients with medically intractable seizures. If cure cannot be achieved, reduction of the frequency and intensity of the seizures may be worthwhile. With these goals, work-up of the patients must be thoroughly carried out to localize the seizure focus and to demarcate surrounding functional brain. Once the seizure focus and pattern are well understood, the surgical decision can be based on a logical and flexible decision tree. Potential complications and past statistics must also enter into the decision process. With these factors combined, the routine and special needs for each patient can be accommodated. The advancing modalities of AVEEG monitoring and imaging, coupled with more sophisticated surgical techniques resulting in predictably good outcomes, have moved surgery for medically intractable epilepsy from a few dedicated centers to universal component of our health care. Increasing numbers of young patients afflicted with this chronic debilitating disease can expect freedom from social and employer ostracism, a chance to drive, and an opportunity for freedom from family or other caretaker dependence. Advancement in this will continue as neurosurgeons blend their knowledge of basic neurobiology and the clinical sciences.