Epilepsy Surgery

Epilepsy Surgery Types

Epilepsy Brain Surgery is any type of brain surgery where parts of the brain are removed, disconnected, destroyed, or stimulated to stop seizures. Numerous types of surgery exist. The most common brain surgeries used in LGS are Corpus Callosotomy and surgery to implant Neuromodulation devices.

Curative Surgery Types

The purpose of these procedures is to stop seizures completely. A small number of those with LGS may qualify for these types of surgery. Resections are surgeries that remove part of the brain, while a disconnection is a procedure that disconnects part of the brain while leaving the rest of the brain intact. Other surgeries may destroy a small or large part of the brain with heat (laser), radiation, or by preventing blood flow. They include:

• Laser Ablation
• Lesionectomy
• Lobectomy
• Hemispherectomy
• Amygdalohippocampectomy
• Hippocampal Transection
• Posterior Quadrant Resection or Disconnection

Palliative Surgery Types

There are other procedures that are not intended to stop the seizures completely but instead aim to stop the seizures after they begin or reduce the number of seizures. These are known as palliative procedures. They include:

• Corpus Callosotomy
• Multiple Subpial Transection

Check out our friends at the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance for more info.