Epilepsy surgery: an effective but underutilized treatment worldwide

Abstract

To the Editor,

Epilepsy surgery continues to be an underutilized treatment worldwide, particularly in our country, despite findings from controlled clinical trials and more than 100 case series and observational studies supporting the efficacy and safety of resective surgery and, more recently, non-resective surgical interventions for the treatment of adults and children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) (1). Moreover, this intervention is not only effective in controlling seizures, but also in improving psychosocial aspects, functioning, and autonomy, reducing medication burden, and increasing overall patient satisfaction. Most complications following epilepsy surgery are mild or transient (e.g., intracranial or extracranial infections) and usually resolve completely. Severe and permanent neurological complications (such as aphasia or hemianopsia) are infrequent, and surgery-related mortality is extremely rare (1).