Surgery

Brain surgery is a very viable treatment for Epilepsy. More than in the past, surgery is being considered sooner in the treatment phase. Once thought of as a "last resort," for some people, it is often a second option following medication. Surgery is likely to be considered as a treatment option when:
  • You have tried anti-seizure medications have been tried without success.
  • You have seizures occur that always start in one part of the brain.
  • You have seizures occur in a part of the brain that can be safely removedremoves and that will not affect a person'syour ability to speak, see or remember.
The most important element in having a successful outcome in surgery is accurate identification of the origin of the seizure. Four tests are most frequently to determine origin include inpatient video- EEG monitoring, Neuropsychological testing, Wada's and MRI. Additional tests like the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or depth electrodes and/or implanting subdural grids to map the brain may be used as well. All of these tests give the surgeon the best possible information to make sure a person is a viable candidate for surgery and to have the best possible results.

In Central Ohio, surgery for Epilepsy will most likely be performed in Columbus, Cincinnati or Cleveland. This is not a surgery that would be performed in a small, local hospital. In addition to operations that remove part of a patient's brain, other types of surgeries can be performed to interrupt the spread of electrical disturbances in a person's brain. During this type of surgery, patients are often awake during, and no pain is felt. Having the patient stay awake helps surgeons to more closely monitor brain function.

The most important element in having a successful outcome with surgery is accurate identification of the origin of the seizure. The four tests that are used most frequently are the inpatient video-EEG monitoring, Neuropsychological testing, Wada's and MRI. Additional tests like the Positron emission tomography (PET) or depth electrodes and/or implanting subdural grids to map the brain may be used as well.

For one to two years following brain surgery for Epilepsy, anti-seizure medications are usually administered. If no seizures occur during this time, the patient is slowly weaned off the medication. All of these tests give the surgeon the best possible information to make sure that the person is a viable candidate for surgery and to have the best possible results.

Surgery for epilepsy will most likely be performed for patients in Central Ohio, in Columbus, Cincinnati or Cleveland. This is not a surgery that would be performed in a small local hospital. In addition to operations that removed part of a patient's brain, other types of surgeries can be performed to interrupt the spread of electrical disturbances in a person's brain.

Patient's are often awake during brain surgery since the brain does not feel any pain. Having the patient stay awake helps the surgeons make sure that important parts of the brain are not being damaged during the operation.

After brain surgery for epilepsy, you will most likely still have to take anti-seizure medications for a year or two. If no seizures occur during this time, your doctor may slowly wan you off of the medication. Some people are able to live seizure and medication- free from this point on; however, many people still need to take their anti-seizure medication. Others, and some have seizures that continue.