title: Long-term socioeconomic outcome following surgical intervention in the treatment of refractory epilepsy in childhood and adolescence.
abstract: Surgical treatment of refractory epilepsy in childhood and adolescence has been shown to be effective in reducing the seizure frequency. This paper examines the question: "Does this result in a better socioeconomic outcome in later years?" Patients who underwent a surgical procedure for the treatment of their medically refractory epilepsy at our hospital, had more than 2-years' follow-up, and were less than 18 years old at time of survey were included. From a retrospective chart review, age at onset and at surgery, duration of seizures prior to surgery, years of follow-up, type of surgery, and neurological status were obtained. From a telephone survey, seizure frequency after surgery, marital, financial and driving status, level of education, and employment status were ascertained. Sixty-four patients in our epileptic surgical series meet entry criteria. Significantly higher levels of education, employment status and independence were found in patients with a class I Engel outcome compared to other Engel outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Keene
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Loy-English
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ventureyra
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004493:Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D009864:Ontario; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome