Epilepsy - Lifestyle Changes

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Highlights	Prognosis	Lifestyle Changes
Introduction	Diagnosis	Resources
Causes	Treatment	References
Risk Factors	Medications
Complications	Surgery

The major areas of the brain have one or more specific functions.

Anterior Temporal Lobectomy

The most common surgical procedure for epilepsy is anterior temporal lobectomy, which is performed when seizure originate in the area of the temporal lobe. (Surgery is not as successful in epilepsies that occur in the frontal lobe.) It involves removing the front portion of the temporal lobe and small portions from the hippocampus. The hippocampus is contained in the temporal lobe and is a part of the brain that is involved in memory processing. It is part of the limbic system, which controls emotions.

Click the icon to see an image of the limbic system of the brain.

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Candidates. Candidates for this surgery usually have a history of seizures that have not been helped by anti-epileptic drugs. Young children may be more difficult candidates because they often have injured areas outside the temporal lobes. Nevertheless, surgery may be successful in children, even if more than one area is involved.

Success Rates. Studies have shown that many patients remain seizure-free after temporal lobectomy. When a well-described area in the temporal lobes is identified as the source of the seizures, about 60% of patients became free of disabling seizures after surgery versus only 8% of patients treated with medications. In general, around 60 - 80% of patients are seizure free 1 - 2 years after surgery.

Patients may still need to take medications after surgery, even if seizures are very infrequent. Cure is not always possible, and some patients may still experience some seizures. Double vision is very common after the operation, but it is typically temporary and resolves within a few months.

Successful temporal lobe surgery improves quality of life and may help relieve depression and anxiety.

Effects on Mental Functioning. Although surgery on the left temporal lobe does not impair intelligence to any significant degree, some studies suggest negative effects on mental functioning and behavior. A risk of impairment of verbal memory is also present.