Individuals considering epilepsy surgery have several questions to address with their healthcare providers. This decision often follows the trial of at least two anti-seizure medications without achieving satisfactory control over seizures. A referral to a comprehensive epilepsy center, such as Duke Health, is recommended for further evaluation.
Dr. Parikh advises patients to view this process as “information-gathering” to determine if surgery is a viable option. If surgery is deemed appropriate, the evaluation may involve inpatient EEG studies and surgical procedures aimed at identifying the seizure onset location. Dr. Parikh emphasizes that if surgery isn’t suitable, other treatment avenues can be explored.
Patients have various surgical options available, including brain tissue removal (surgical resection), minimally invasive procedures like laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), and implantable devices such as deep brain stimulators (DBS) and responsive neurostimulators (RNS). Dr. Southwell notes that post-surgery recovery typically allows patients to resume basic activities within 24 hours and return home after one to three nights in the hospital.
Potential complications of epilepsy surgery include common surgical risks like bleeding and infection, along with rare impacts on brain functions such as language or memory. Dr. Southwell highlights that pre-surgical evaluations help assess these risks specific to each patient.
Regarding medication post-surgery, some patients may reduce their anti-seizure medication dosage but not necessarily eliminate it entirely.
For those considering epilepsy surgery, seeking care from a recognized epilepsy center is crucial. According to Drs. Parikh and Southwell, Duke Health stands out as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center offering advanced surgical treatments for epilepsy patients. The neurology and neurosurgery program at Duke University Hospital has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for 2022-2023, marking it as North Carolina’s top program in this field.
