Treatment Options in Drug Recalcitrant Epilepsy for Physicians: A Brief Introduction to Epilepsy Surgery

Abstract

Epilepsy surgery has been rapidly progressing over the last decade or so, with many previously untreatable conditions now satisfactorily managed to allow improved quality of life and seizure control without excessive medication and debilitating neurological deficits. We present a brief recap on accepted axioms of epilepsy surgery with a look at the future with a short summary of seizure disorder itself and the various management options. The article is directed at general physicians and Internalists who deal with epilepsy on a daily basis. Many have been exasperated by drug recalcitrant epilepsy and have tried with limited success to manage the condition medically. Many are not aware of the speciality of epilepsy surgery, which as mentioned above has made great strides in seizure control over the last decade. The piece also adds emphasis on diagnosis, seizure semiology and detection along with post procedure analysis and evaluation of efficacy. This has been added to assist the general physician in assessing the disease appropriately and referring the disease correctly to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment early. The authors hope that this piece helps sensitise the physicians to the existence of epilepsy surgery, so that they will refer their patient more and more to neurosurgeons for better care and results to their patients.