Medical management for neurosurgical related seizures

Seizures or chronic epilepsy are a relatively common occurrence in a neurosurgical setting. However, seizure treatment after neurosurgery has received less attention compared with other causes and only few data are availaible in the literature on management in neurosurgical patients. Areas covered: This paper reviews the availaible data on the risk of seizures in patients undergoing neurosurgery and discusses the role of antiseizure therapy in the management of the postoperative period. Finally, some controversial issues on this topic are addressed. Expert opinion: Despite the studies so far published on this topic, there are still no guidelines for the clinical practice. International recommendations do not generally support the use of antiseizure drugs in postsurgical patients. Nevertheless, their use still remains wide in the routine practice. Initiation of a treatment should be considered when the risk for prolonged seizures or chronic epilepsy is high and the risk of toxicity is acceptable. First generation antiseizures drugs seem to be quite effective although new drugs are associated with lower adverse effects risk and better tolerability.