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Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery: Definition of Candidacy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Michael W. Jones
Affiliation:
Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Frederick Andermann
Affiliation:
Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Abstract

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Medical intractability is one of the absolute indications for considering temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. This is a relative concept that has to be highly individualized. It is quite easy to determine when a patient's seizures are fully controlled. On the other hand, “continuing seizures are not necessarily a measure of intractability or disability”. A positive decision to operate would be based on some of the following factors: assurance of a firm diagnosis, seizures that are frequent and disabling, and seizures occurring in patients who are drug refractory to optimal anti-epileptic medications and dosages.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2000

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