Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 22, 2026

Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes
12:10

Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes

Published on: October 2, 2014

Intractable epilepsy in children

G L Holmes1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Epilepsia
|January 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Epilepsy surgery offers a promising treatment for children with drug-resistant seizures. Early surgical intervention in pediatric epilepsy can lead to better outcomes and functional recovery due to brain plasticity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • A subset of pediatric epilepsy cases exhibit drug resistance or adverse reactions to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
  • Epilepsy surgery is an established and effective therapeutic option for infants and young children with severe, intractable seizures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role and efficacy of epilepsy surgery in children with medically intractable epilepsy.
  • To highlight the presurgical evaluation process and surgical techniques commonly employed in pediatric epilepsy surgery.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive patient history and detailed neurologic and neuropsychologic examinations.
  • Anatomic and functional neuroimaging studies.
  • Simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and video monitoring for ictal event recording, considered the gold standard.

Main Results:

  • Surgical outcomes in children with epilepsy are comparable to those in adult patients.
  • Younger children often experience greater functional recovery post-surgery due to the brain's higher plasticity.
  • Specific surgical procedures vary by age, with temporal lobe resections common in older patients, while non-temporal resections, corpus callosotomy, and hemispherectomy are more frequent in younger children.

Conclusions:

  • Epilepsy surgery is a viable and effective treatment for select pediatric patients with intractable seizures.
  • Early surgical intervention is recommended to maximize potential benefits and functional recovery in children with refractory epilepsy.

More Related Videos

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy09:57

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

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...
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...
Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.