Neurosurgical approaches to pediatric epilepsy: Indications, techniques, and outcomes of common surgical procedures

Abstract

Epilepsy is a common pediatric neurological condition, and approximately one-third of children with epilepsy are refractory to medical management. For these children neurosurgery may be indicated, but operative success is dependent on complete delineation of the epileptogenic zone. In this review, surgical techniques for pediatric epilepsy are considered. First, potentially-curative operations are discussed and broadly divided into resections and disconnections. Then, two palliative approaches to seizure control are reviewed. Finally, future neurosurgical approaches to epilepsy are considered.

Keywords: Callosotomy; Disconnection; Lesionectomy; Lobectomy; Pediatric epilepsy.