title: Temporal lobe epilepsy surgery: definition of candidacy.
abstract: Medical intractability is one of the absolute indications for considering temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. This is a relative concept that has to be highly individualized. It is quite easy to determine when a patient's seizures are fully controlled. On the other hand, "continuing seizures are not necessarily a measure of intractability or disability". A positive decision to operate would be based on some of the following factors: assurance of a firm diagnosis, seizures that are frequent and disabling, and seizures occurring in patients who are drug refractory to optimal anti-epileptic medications and dosages.
authors.affiliation: Vancouver General Hospital, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andermann
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D010560:Personnel Selection
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants