Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy (SEEG) With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note
05:54

Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy (SEEG) With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note

Published on: June 13, 2016

Should we reconsider epilepsy surgery? The motivation of patients once rejected

Maeike Zijlmans1, Erik Buskens, Maaike Hersevoort

  • 1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. G.J.M.Zijlmans@umcutrecht.nl

Seizure
|December 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Most patients rejected for epilepsy surgery are highly motivated to undergo novel diagnostic techniques. This offers new hope for individuals previously ineligible for surgical intervention due to localization challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • Medically refractory epilepsy management evolves with new diagnostic tools.
  • Novel investigations can reconsider patients previously rejected for epilepsy surgery.
  • Past epilepsy surgery rejections were often due to localization difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the willingness of epilepsy surgery-rejected patients to undergo novel diagnostic techniques.
  • To evaluate the motivation and current status of patients previously denied epilepsy surgery.
  • To determine if advancements in diagnostics can reopen surgical options for rejected candidates.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 71 Dutch patients, rejected for epilepsy surgery 0.5-5 years prior, were surveyed.
  • A questionnaire assessed social/medical status, quality of life (QoL), and motivation for reconsideration.
  • Response rate was 90% (64 patients).

Main Results:

  • 88% of respondents (56 patients) were highly motivated for new diagnostic procedures.
  • The primary reason for prior rejection was the inability to localize the seizure focus (70%).
  • Only 6% of patients had been seizure-free for the past 6 months.

Conclusions:

  • A significant majority of patients previously rejected for epilepsy surgery express strong interest in novel diagnostic techniques.
  • Advancements in diagnostic procedures hold potential to offer new surgical prospects for a substantial number of previously ineligible patients.
  • Patient motivation underscores the need for continued development and application of advanced epilepsy localization methods.

More Related Videos

Anteromesial Temporal Lobectomy for Medically Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: An Operative Study11:29

Anteromesial Temporal Lobectomy for Medically Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: An Operative Study

Published on: August 15, 2025

Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients09:32

Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients

Published on: December 18, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Psychosurgery01:30

Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Electroconvulsive Therapy01:30

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...