Seizure Focus Surgery

THE MOST COMMON SURGICAL PROCEDURE FOR TREATING EPILEPSY.

Surgery that removes the area of the brain causing seizures is called a focal resection. The area of the brain being removed is referred to as the “seizure focus,” meaning the place where seizures begin. Removing the seizure focus is the most common type of epilepsy surgery.

When medications fail to control a patient’s seizures, seizure focus surgery may be a good option. During this type of procedure, a portion of the brain is removed. This is the most common type of epilepsy surgery and has a high rate of success. About 70 – 80 percent of patients will see significant improvement in their seizures.

Surgical Technique

Seizure focus surgery is performed by a neurosurgeon, who will first perform a craniotomy to expose the epileptic area of the brain. Depending on your specific case, intraoperative EEG recording and stimulation with subdural electrodes may be performed to map brain areas or reconfirm the epileptic zone, particularly how much of the lateral temporal cortex is involved.

The neurosurgeon performs the procedure while looking through an operative microscope. After removing the area of the brain where seizures occur, the neurosurgeon will close, replace the bone flap removed during the craniotomy and secure it with titanium plates and screws, then suture the muscles and skin back together.