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

Jonathan Dallas; Dario J Englot; Robert P Naftel

doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2018.11.007

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

Seizure. 2020 Apr:77:76-85. doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2018.11.007. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Authors

Jonathan Dallas¹, Dario J Englot², Robert P Naftel²

Affiliations

¹ Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2209 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.

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.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Child
Drug Resistant Epilepsy / surgery*
Electrocorticography*
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / surgery*
Humans
Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
Palliative Care / methods*

Grants and funding

R00 NS097618/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States