Epilepsy surgery criteria

Q: What is the criteria for selecting candidates for Epilepsy Surgery?

The criteria for selecting candidates for epilepsy surgery should ofcourse aim at selecting those patients who would benefit from surgery[1],[2].This would also depend on the technology and expertise availablelocally. The selection criteria would include

1. confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy
2. Medical intractability
3. Disabling seizures or AED side effects. Stagnation or regression in cognitive development
4. Presence of a resectable focus/foci. ( except in case of callosotomy, vagal nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation)
5. Motivated patient / carers
6. No progressive underlying cause ( except Rassmussen's encephalitis)
7. High probability that surgery would result in improved quality of life. Any possible deficit resulting from resection must be acceptable.

References

1. editor, Hans Otto Lüders. Epilepsy surgery. New York: Raven Press, 1992. isbn:088167821X.

   Wyllie E. Candidacy for epilepsy surgery: Special considerations in children

2. edited by Thomas Brandt... [et al.]. Neurological disorders. San Diego: Academic Press, 1996. isbn:0121258300.

   Noachtar S, et al. Surgical therapy of epilepsy

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