EPILEPSY SURGERY
Epilepsy is a chronic condition in which patients experience recurrent seizures without any provoking cause because of chronic underlying brain etiology. Seizure is just a symptom of epilepsy disorder. Epilepsies can be associated with brain malformations, tumours, previous ischemic insults, infection, birth related injuries etc. Very few patients can have genetic component as well for epilepsy.
Epilepsy is chronic disorders which cripples many people around the globe and is a huge social stigma associated with it. These people lose many privileges of life like sports, driving, family, education, employment and become dependent on others for even routine activities. Epilepsy surgery also makes financial gain over five years over continued medical management. The problem is more severe in children as most of kids with epilepsy become mentally challenged due to epilepsy and medications side effects. With proper and timely treatment of epilepsy, these kids can have almost normal life.
If your seizures are controlled on one or two drugs, then there is no need for surgery. However, when you have to take more than two medications and you continue to have seizures, surgery is rational choice for the following reasons.
Epilepsy surgeries are mainly of two types. In patients where we find a small, focal brain area responsible for epilepsy, we go for resection of that area. These surgeries are called curative surgeries where once that area is removed; patient will be mostly free of epilepsy. However, there is a group of patients in which a large area is responsible or we could not define a small area or removing complete area is not feasible; surgeries are meant to just reduce seizure frequency and improve quality of life. These surgeries are called palliative surgeries
There are few myths are seen in our society and unfortunately awareness about epilepsy surgery is miniscule even in the medical fraternity. Most importantly, routine EEG did not show anything specific means there is nothing we could do further is the most common belief. Secondly, normal report of MRI is mostly cited reason by relatives for not going for further work up. Actually routine EEG many times does not reveal anything and this is well accepted fact about EEG. Secondly, routine MRI may not pick up more that 50% of anomalies responsible for epilepsy. Hence, we have to go for MRI under epilepsy protocol to see it in more details. Also, positive report rates are higher in centres doing epilepsy work. Third misconception is that we can not do epilepsy surgery in mentally challenged kids. On the contrary, it has been found that after epilepsy surgery and seizure control, learning capability and memory functions of kids improve along with scholastic performance. And last problems is many patients came to us and say that our doctors told us that nothing further can be done about it. Unfortunately, in India epilepsy surgery is performed at very few places and hence many doctors including physicians are not aware about it. This is fortunate that now all world class facilities about epilepsy surgery are available in Pune and we can exploit till last resorts.
For More Information & Appointment Please Contact
Epilepsy Clinic
At Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital
3071 7111 / 222, 7705.
ADDRESS:
ADITYA BIRLA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, ADITYA BIRLA MARG, CHINCHWAD, PUNE – 411033, MAHARASHTRA , INDIA.
For Telephonic assistance,
call us on :- +91 98811 23006
For Emergency services : +91-20-3071 7500-3
For Ambulance services: +91-20-40707777/30717777
ACCREDITATIONS & AWARDS
doctorshealthcare@adityabirla.com
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