title: Functional hemispherectomy: radical treatment for Rasmussen's encephalitis.
abstract: Rasmussen's encephalitis is a progressive, debilitating disease that usually appears in the pediatric population but also may affect adults. Uncontrolled seizures, cognitive decline, and a progressive hemiparesis accompany this disorder. Treatment options are limited and consist of medical management, which is somewhat experimental and ineffective; the use of either intravenous antiviral agents or steroids; or surgical resection of the affected hemisphere. Patients undergoing hemispherectomy for Rasmussen's encephalitis are complex. Nurses caring for these patients require a high degree of knowledge and specialized skills. Patient outcome is highly affected by the knowledge and skill of the entire team of healthcare professionals needed to manage these patients.
authors.affiliation: Shands Hospital, University of Florida, Department of Neurology, Gainesville 32610-0236, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lilly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D003422:Critical Care; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000451:nursing