title: Epilepsy after craniotomy and the place of prophylactic anticonvulsant drugs: discussion paper.
abstract: A retrospective study of 1000 patients who had undergone supratentorial neurosurgery and with prolonged follow-up revealed an overall postoperative incidence of epilepsy of 17%. The incidence varied with different pathologies but anticonvulsants given prophylactically in a randomized trial did not significantly alter the incidence. Routine anticonvulsant prophylaxis cannot be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Mersey Regional Department of Medical & Surgical Neurology, Walton Hospital, Liverpool.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Foy
mesh_terms: D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003399:Craniotomy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine; D010672:Phenytoin