Evolution in Epilepsy Surgery and the Need to Address a Public Health Crisis of Underutilization

In patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, surgery is an effective option that can lead to seizure freedom in a majority of children and adults.1 However, despite publication of a practice parameter in 2003 that recommended referral of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy to a surgical epilepsy center,2 subsequent studies showed that the needle did not move, with the average time to surgical referral hovering around 18 years.3,4 The International League Against Epilepsy continues to support surgical referral of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, recently publishing consensus recommendations that a surgical evaluation should be offered to every patient with drug-resistant epilepsy up to 70 years of age, as soon as drug resistance is ascertained, regardless of epilepsy duration, sex, socioeconomic status, seizure type, epilepsy type (including epileptic encephalopathies), localization, and comorbidities.
Source: Neurosurgery Clinics of North America - Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Tags: Preface Source Type: research