Home Blogs Neuro Surgery What are the PROS and CONS of Epilepsy Surgery?
Written By Dr. Simran Rao
Neuro Surgery
2 mins read
15/04/2024
The major component in the brain is the elimination of electricity as the primary process in that surgery among epileptic people who suffer seizures is entirely critical for them.
The center of the brain which has an important role in generating epilepsy-caused seizures needs a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy as the main indicator for doing epilepsy surgery.
The first strategy would be not to have surgery for epileptic quit become the core of the treatment. Despite this, when the other two drugs which are anti-seizure tablets fail to give the person seizure control, the phenytoin one might still be one of the choices.
Here are a few pros and cons of the same, Firstly we will start with the pros of epilepsy surgery.
In the case of epilepsy surgery - your epilepsy condition dramatically wipes out the seizure frequency which literally alters patients' lives by them getting back into their daily activities, work, school, social relationships, and many others, and most importantly with seizures coming just a nightmare for them.
An enormous burden is lifted knowing that this injury-free period alludes to less opportunity for car crashes, kitchen burns, or other accidents associated with activities like driving or carrying out cooking during a seized state.
Along with assisting with the symptoms of the ailment, epilepsy surgery also makes sure that the mental abilities an individual possesses are not put at stake and they are also not likely to encounter negative side effects in response to medications that are meant to stop seizures.
Hence, they can excel academically and professionally as well as diminish the impacts of side effects arising from medications. In addition to that, the distribution of the pills will stop and the practitioners will directly hand them to the hospital users.
By doing so, it will increase stability and save costs. This will be an added advantage to the individuals' sense of well-being and independence.
The surgery for epilepsy is a life-game-changing action for those who have epilepsy as it vastly improves the quality of life by affecting many aspects at the same time. Besides, surgery reduces or eliminates seizures, going for independence in participating more actively in daily activities or social interactions.
Also, it works on the psychological impact in patients by eliminating some of the symptoms which include anxiety, depression, and social isolation and this enhances their mental health and participation in activities such as social and recreational events.
Overall, surgery spares cognitive function, hence making an attempt to focus, reasoning, and decision-making possible thus helping to achieve educational and professional goals. The lesser the experience of seizures and the better the seizure control, people get to live fear-free and drive safely, so they can channel their confidence in making the best of themselves and pursue their goals and outdoor activities.
All in all, epilepsy surgery is not confined to relief from the physical ferocities of seizures but refines the quality of everyday life by endowing individuals with autonomy, self-confidence, and social connection.
Different surgery methods provide a comprehensive way to cut down on medication requirements and make people with epilepsy feel much better. The surgery seeks to eliminate the seizure activity ultimately by attacking the latter at the origin inside the brain leading to a significant decrease in seizures which in return can control seizures and may even eliminate the need for anti-seizure medications.
With this decrease in drug dependence risk, individuals are not put at risk of the side effects that may accompany long-term drug use. It also means cost savings since fewer drugs are used, and cognitive function is boosted by alleviating the cognitive impairments that may be occasioned by the anti-convulsion medications.
In addition, epilepsy surgery is associated with decreased distress of people with epilepsy and improved mental health condition which is yet another factor meant for improving the overall quality of life for such individuals.
While the surgery decision depends on the case, patients, as well as health workers, should discuss the treatment and all its risks and benefits through a mutual understanding basis.
Wondering How much Epilepsy Sugery Cost? Click Here
A seizure of any duration can lead to serious damage if not treated, and seizure surgery prevents consequences by lowering or abolishing seizure activity. Seizures can cause loss of consciousness or impaired awareness which increases the probability of accidents and injuries.
For instance, cooking, swimming, or driving can be risky to persons who have seizures because activities require coordination sometimes coupled with hazards. The epilepsy surgery is done with the intention of accurately targeting the particular area of the brain that homes this seizure's origination and as a result, prevents them from occurring.
By the aforementioned procedure, the patients who recover from surgery demonstrate a substantial decrease in the frequency and severity of the epileptic seizures which often leads to a large reduction of the risk of seizure-related injuries.
Furthermore, the surgery also helps in the provision of better seizure control which goes hand in hand with daily activities as the individuals can take on tasks with such confidence and without the fear of injuries because of the uncontrolled seizures.
In a nutshell, surgical medication changes in epilepsy are of extreme importance in providing an increased level of safety by attacking seizures in their basics and achieving maximum seizure control.
Epilepsy surgery not only improves physical well-being but also leads to psychological benefits for people affected by epilepsy since the psychological element of the disease is taken into account. Via surgery, the frequency or number of seizures can be cut down or even brought to a stop.
The liberty of foreknowledge and control of the condition provides a feeling of stability and fearlessness that seizes from the unpredictability of seizures and of safety and social acceptance.
Finally, a successful operation breeds self-esteem and confidence, as a result of which the stigma imposed by seizures becomes unimportant and people can participate fully in society through interactions with others, formal education, and recreational activities.
In addition, surgery improves interpersonal functioning by reducing the consequences of seizures on relationships and social life, hence, establishing a social system among the community members that provides social support and belonging.
The release from psychological distress, taking away feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and agitation, contributes to the overall well-being, bringing hope for the future. In summary, epilepsy surgery not only takes away the burdens of living with epilepsy but also helps individuals obtain interior peace and joy that enhance the quality of their lives.
Epilepsy surgery offers various benefits, but it also comes with potential drawbacks and risks. Some of the cons of epilepsy surgery include:
Like any operation near the brain, the risk of an epilepsy surgery having some complications such as injuries or positive side effects is always taken into account by patients and healthcare providers.
These risks, among others, are due to the dangers of infection, bleeding, and neurological deficits including cognitive changes, seizure recurrence, complications from anesthesia, post-op concerns, and psychological impact.
However, the risks of getting seizures reduced and quality of life improved should be carefully assessed through collaborative work that brings together specialized healthcare teams and patients. By considering the probable risks and benefits, people will be able to make intelligent conclusions to figure out if surgery for epilepsy is the right treatment for them.
Incomplete seizure control following epilepsy surgery may arise from multiple individual issues which continue to make surgery, despite being one of the effective treatment options, a difficult procedure to perform. The number of factors which must be dealt with is very high.
They include residual epileptogenic tissue that cannot be entirely removed due to its strategic location or surgical restrictions among others, the challenge of eliminating multiple seizure foci (locations) concurrently, and the risk of new foci development through time, which is unforeseen.
Moreover, the occurrence of surgical problems that might lead to incomplete resection or postoperative complications like bleeding or infection can negatively affect the success of treatment.
Additionally, multiple causes of this variability of surgery responses, such as the diversity of the underlying condition, the brain anatomy, and the different seizure patterns, make the therapy outcomes heterogeneous.
Taking into account multi determinantal framework for seizure outcome meanwhile, comprehensive pre-operative and intra-operative assessment along with careful planning and ongoing post-operative management provide not only a good prognosis for seizure outcome but also saves against the persistence of seizure.
Cognitive side effects of surgery for epilepsy can be attributed to the damage of brain tissue containing memory nodes, language circuits, and executive functions. Brain pathways within the cognitive regions, procedures like excision or severing neurons, and even the approach of the surgery all may result in different degrees of cognitive deficits post-surgery.
Moreover, persons whose brain regions are related to cognitive impairment are perceived as more vulnerable turn to be getting worse after the operation as compared to healthy individuals. Post-surgical rehabilitation is the most important solution to the complex deficits in perceptual and cognitive functions to speed up recovery.
In dementia, patients experience widespread cognitive impairment, including memory loss, language dysfunction, and executive dysfunction. Healthcare professionals must weigh the significance of the aspects interactively during treatment and rehabilitation to decrease the complication of cognitive functions on health-related quality of life.
Epilepsy surgery, which is effective for some patients, has some limitations and some people cannot access it for many different reasons. Where the procedure is concerned, the quality of the operation is entirely dependent on the ability to locate and one can do this without compromising the important brain functions.
For some patients with multiple foci, it becomes a real challenge for the surgeon’s intervention because of the imminent possibility that dealing with all of the foci would result in severe neurological deficits.
As an add-on, the advanced pathology and overall health of the patient counts as a main factor or even the key determinant of eligibility for the program. The doctor takes into account the fact that certain factors such as the patient’s will as well as their fears also matter as the risks viz the benefits of surgery, and ultimately makes final the decision.
Therefore, epilepsy surgery is considered to be preferably carried out by a multidisciplinary team of specialized professionals after a comprehensive case assessment. Such a strategy enables us to guarantee that surgery is individualized to address each person's requirement depending on one's specific situation.
The rehabilitation process after brain surgery is essential as a part of epilepsy treatment, and its goal is to help people recover and gain a life with better functioning.
It incorporates different vital elements such as neurological and cognitive rehabilitation to deal with the surgery complications and psychosocial support that targets those individuals and families going through emotional distress from the surgery.
Medication management to help optimize seizure control, lifestyle education that is aimed at enhancing self-management to manage seizure triggers, and ongoing monitoring and follow-up care to track the progress and adjust the rehabilitation.
Through these programs, rehabilitation experts provide adequate support enabling patients with epilepsy to overcome the challenges regarding recovery, reassume their independence, and improve their general way of living after surgery.
Epilepsy surgery seems to be an alternative treatment for patients who have not been sufficiently reciprocated in terms of the effectiveness of medications and other means of treatment.
The treatment causes better living through reduced seizure activity, enhanced life quality, less interaction with medication, and the facilitation of a fulfilling social life. However, sometimes this can be at odds with certain drawbacks such as surgical complications, treatment resistance, cognitive impairment, lack of acceptance, and long-term rehabilitation.
Epilepsy surgeries, although stressful at the same time, continue to be key tools of relevance in providing a solution to this issue. It becomes a necessity to have a dialogue between the patients, medical facilitators and medical providers to assist them in decision-making about the appropriate benefits and surgery-related risks.
Written By
A hard working, patient centred, skillful and knowledgeable doctor who is always ready to learn.
From a very young age she aspired to be in the medical field, to help cure the ailing. She believes that relief on the patient's face, the smile of gratitude and the feeling of helping someone is all what matters.
SOURCE
HISTORY
At Mejocare, we prioritize accuracy and reliability. Our content is based on peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and medical associations. We avoid tertiary references. Learn more in our editorial policy. Trustworthy health information for you.
1) Mayoclinic 2) American Cancer Society
CURRENT VERSION
Categories
Our care team can help you.
Anha Wahid Ansari
