The role of surgery in epilepsy1

Abstract

Surgery for the reduction or elimination of seizures in epilepsy is not a new therapeutic technique. The criteria for surgical candidates have evolved over the past 40 years so that individuals with epilepsy are not subjected to surgery unless it is considered beneficial after careful evaluation of the patient’s condition. An intensive work-up by a multifaceted team at the Cleveland Clinic is performed for each patient referred for epilepsy surgery. Various techniques are considered and tailored for the individual. In the literature, the success rate for epilepsy surgery in markedly reducing or eliminating seizures is about 65%.