Delay in pediatric epilepsy surgery: A caregiver's perspective

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Epileptology

Background:

• Epilepsy surgery timing is complex for pediatric patients.
• A structured pathway for surgical decision-making is lacking.
• Caregiver perspectives on timing and outcomes are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate caregiver satisfaction with the timing of pediatric epilepsy surgery.
• To understand caregiver acceptance of potential deficits post-surgery.
• To identify factors influencing retrospective views on surgical timing.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to caregivers of pediatric epilepsy surgery patients.
• Analysis of responses regarding perceived optimal surgical timing.
• Comparison of epilepsy duration between groups with differing timing satisfaction.
• Assessment of caregiver willingness to accept seizure freedom likelihood and functional deficits.

Main Results:

• 30 caregivers wished for earlier surgery; 20 felt timing was appropriate.
• Longer epilepsy duration correlated with a desire for earlier surgery (p=0.0034).
• Caregivers accepted lower seizure freedom rates and functional deficits (motor, cognitive, behavioral, language).

Conclusions:

• Caregiver satisfaction with epilepsy surgery timing is influenced by pre-operative epilepsy duration.
• Enhanced caregiver and neurologist education on epilepsy surgery is necessary.
• Streamlining the pathway to epilepsy surgery may improve outcomes and satisfaction.