Once the area or areas of the brain in which seizures occur have been identified, this area is removed through surgery to solve the epileptic problem.
This type of surgery is performed when the patient has not improved with anticonvulsant drug treatment and has better results in focused epilepsy, that is, when it is located in a defined area of the brain. On the contrary, if it is in more than one area, it becomes more complicated and its results less predictable.
After a series of tests, your doctor will determine if you are a candidate for epilepsy surgery and will establish the ideal technique for your specific case.
Most common epilepsy surgeries:
- Brain resection: it is used frequently and consists of the extraction of the affected brain tissues.
- Interstitial laser thermal therapy: This is a minimally invasive technique that uses MRI for image guidance and a laser to destroy damaged tissue.
- Deep brain stimulation: In this technique, an implant is placed in the brain that emits programmed electrical signals to counteract the brain activities that cause seizures.
Potential risks:
The risks vary depending on the type of surgery and the affected brain areas, but in general, they are the following:
- Loss of memory and ability to understand and use language.
- Visual effects.
- Anxiety and depressive episodes.
- Headaches.
- Stroke.
After completing the procedure:
Once surgery is finished, you will stay one day in the Intensive Care Unit and four to five days of total hospitalization.
You will need painkillers and anti-inflammatories to fight the pain and swelling in your head, although in two or three weeks these symptoms will completely disappear. To return to your daily activities you will have to wait two or three months.
At the Neurological Center, a select group of highly professional and certified doctors in the various neurological specialties are ready to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.
Our mission is to provide you with comprehensive and multidisciplinary care programs for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of nervous system diseases, always focusing our activities on your safety.
Nervous system specialties
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Spine surgery
- Pediatric neurosurgery
- Neurophysiology
- Neuro-rehabilitation
- Neuro-pathology
- Interventional neuro-radiology
- Neuropsychology
- Neuro-oncology
- Neuro-otology
- Epilepsy
- Neuro-ophthalmology
- Neuroimaging
Related centers and departments:
Fuentes:
- neurorgs.net
- mayoclinic.org
- spine-health.com
- medlineplus.gov
- topdoctors.es
- msdmanuals.com
- medigraphic.com
- Ramírez-Navarrete E, de Font-Réaulx E, Terrazo-Lluch J, et al. Cirugía de epilepsia en el Centro Médico ABC. An Med Asoc Med Hosp ABC. 2020;65(3):187-193. doi:10.35366/95675.
- Riascos LJH, Dearriba RMU, Castillo LGE, et al. Epilepsia farmacorresistente. Experiencia quirúrgica en el Instituto de Neurología y Neurocirugía (2012-2018). Revista Habanera de Ciencias Médicas. 2020;19(2):1-14.
- Romero FJÁ, de Font RE, Terrazo J, et al. Epilepsia y neuroimagen. Experiencia del programa de cirugía de epilepsia del Centro Médico ABC. An Med Asoc Med Hosp ABC. 2020;65(3):209-213. doi:10.35366/95678.
- Rojas-Ávila IA, Cárdenas-España M, Cruz-Cruz EF, et al. El papel del anestesiólogo en cirugía de epilepsia. An Med Asoc Med Hosp ABC. 2020;65(3):214-223. doi:10.35366/95679.
