EPILEPSY & ROLE OF NEUROSURGERY IN EPILEPTIC DISORDERS

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorder presenting as seizures. It arises due to abnormality in the brain. More than 50 million people are suffering from epilepsy world wide, majority from lower to middle socioeconomic group.
Epileptic seizures are intractable in 30% patients which means that the seizures are not controllable by 2 or more anti seizure medication compared to rest where it can be controlled by anti-epileptic drugs.

Patients of intractable seizures can be helped by neurosurgical intervention. Preoperatively, patients is commonly evaluated by history and clinical examination, MRI brain and Electroencephalography(EEG), WADA test and neuropsychological assessment in most of the cases. The aim of investigation is to localize that the origin of the seizure is from one area of the brain.

If the origin of seizures from a part of brain is confirmed on investigations, neurosurgical excision of that part of the brain may result in decreased frequency or complete recovery from seizures.