Surgery of localization related epilepsies in children

Abstract

Surgery of epilepsy is as successful in children as in adults. With very few modifications, similar evaluation methods and surgical techniques can be used. However, in the selection of the surgical candidates special considerations are necessary in children to establish the stability of the epileptogenic focus (to exclude the possibility of a change with maturation) and to define the clinical syndrome which very frequently is still poorly defined in that age group. The expectation that surgery of epilepsy at an early age will facilitate rehabilitation efforts has still not been confirmed by systematic scientific studies. Surgery of epilepsy has not been attempted in a sufficient number of children under 5 yrs of age to establish its value in that age group.