Selection of Children with Drug Resistant Epilepsy who are Candidates for Epilepsy Surgery: Pre and Post- Operative Evaluation

Abstract

This prospective study aimed to select patients with drug resistant epilepsy who are candidates for epilepsy surgery and to detect outcome of epilepsy surgery in such children as regards seizures control and complication of surgery. It was conducted over a period of 36 months between April 2017 till April 2020 on pediatric patients following up in Pediatrics Neurology Outpatient Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University suffering from drug resistant epilepsy. The study was comprised of 3 stages. Stage 1 included selection of candidates for epilepsy surgery and preoperative evaluation with full clinical evaluation, Video electroencephalogram (EEG), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain epilepsy protocol were done for all patients. PET scan was done for one patient only. Stage 2 included Surgery phase where results of the noninvasive evaluation was discussed by a multidisciplinary patient management team where the decision was be made to proceed with surgery.