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[Epilepsy surgery in France].
B Devaux1, F Chassoux, M Guenot
1Service de neurochirurgie, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75674 Paris cedex 14, France. b.devauz@ch-sainte-anne.fr
Neuro-Chirurgie
|May 10, 2008
Summary
Epilepsy surgery in France has seen significant activity over 50 years, with nearly 400 surgeries annually. Results show comparable outcomes for adults and children, with low complication rates, supporting expansion of services.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Epileptology
Context:
- Epilepsy surgery is a crucial treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy.
- France has a long history of performing epilepsy surgeries and invasive monitoring.
- This study provides the first comprehensive survey of epilepsy surgery activity in France.
Purpose:
- To survey and analyze epilepsy surgery activity in France.
- To compare surgical outcomes between adult and pediatric patients.
- To assess complication rates and identify areas for service improvement.
Summary:
- Over 50 years, more than 5000 patients underwent epilepsy surgery in France, with current annual rates around 400.
- Adults and children show differences in epilepsy location, etiology, and surgical procedures, but achieve similar seizure-free rates (80.6% temporal, 65.9% extratemporal).
- Tumor-associated epilepsy in children and temporomesial resections for hippocampal sclerosis in adults yield the best outcomes (Class I: 80-83%).
- Surgical complications are low (8% for resective surgery, 2.5% permanent morbidity; 4.3% for monitoring).
Impact:
- Epilepsy surgery outcomes in France are comparable to international literature, with a low complication rate.
- The survey highlights a growing interest in epilepsy surgery, particularly for pediatric cases.
- Findings support the expansion of epilepsy surgery centers and healthcare networks to meet patient needs.
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