Epilepsy surgery

Epilepsy surgery is a type of neurosurgery that is used as a treatment for epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures.

Pronunciation

Epilepsy surgery: /ɛpɪlɛpsi sɜrdʒəri/

Etymology

The term "epilepsy" comes from the Greek word "epilēpsía," meaning "to seize, possess, or afflict." The term "surgery" comes from the Old French "surgerye," which is derived from the Latin "chirurgia," meaning "hand work."

Procedure

Epilepsy surgery involves removing or altering areas of the brain where seizures are originating. This is typically considered only after at least two anti-seizure drugs have failed to control the seizures and a thorough evaluation has determined that the benefits of surgery outweigh the risks.

Types of Epilepsy Surgery

There are several types of epilepsy surgery, including:

Lobectomy or Lesionectomy: This is the most common type of epilepsy surgery, where the surgeon removes the part of the brain that's causing seizures.

Corpus Callosotomy: In this procedure, the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain, is cut to prevent seizures from spreading from one side of the brain to the other.

Hemispherectomy: This involves removing or disabling one hemisphere of the brain. It's typically performed on children with severe forms of epilepsy.

Multiple Subpial Transection: In this procedure, the surgeon makes a series of cuts in the brain to prevent seizures from spreading into other areas.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Epilepsy surgery
Wikipedia's article - Epilepsy surgery

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