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In some people epilepsy is caused by a specific structural problem in one or more areas of the brain. This may have resulted from a head injury, occurring either at birth or in later life, or from cerebral infection. In some cases, the brain did not develop properly or there is scarring, a lesion or a birthmark on the brain.
Surgery for epilepsy involves removing the abnormal or damaged part of the brain. This is major brain surgery and is not undertaken lightly.
Over 70% of people who have epilepsy surgery become completely seizure free. To find out whether someone is suitable for this type of surgery a number of things will need to be taken into account by the specialist.
People may be suitable for surgery in the following circumstances:
- Anti-epileptic drug treatment has been tried but has proved unsuccessful.
- The seizures originate from one localised area of the brain.
- The person's ability to function normally would not be affected by removing this part of the brain.
- The irregular part of the brain is accessible to the surgeon and can be removed without causing further damage.
- The areas of the brain responsible for speech, sight, movement or hearing are not close to the part of the brain to be removed.
- The person is thought to have a very good chance of becoming seizure free after surgery.
- The person has no other medical problem, which would make them unsuitable for this type of surgery.
To answer some of these questions a number of tests are necessary. These include:
- MRI scans
- Video telemetry
- Psychological tests.
The results of each of these tests are vital in giving the specialist the information needed to assess the suitability for surgery of each person.
To find out more about the possibility of epilepsy surgery, you should discuss this with your GP or specialist. If it is felt that the circumstances are appropriate, then you may be referred for detailed evaluation to a centre offering surgery.
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