title: Neurosurgical management of pediatric epilepsy.
abstract: Pediatric neurosurgeons are often involved early in the evaluation and management of children with epilepsy. Surgery should not be viewed merely as the end stage of multiple diagnostic decisions made by neurologists and pediatricians. Instead, when a reasonable trial of several AEDs has failed to provide adequate seizure control, a pediatrician can refer the patient directly to a pediatric neurosurgeon with a specialty interest in epilepsy. The diagnosis and treatment of focal versus diffuse epilepsy can be discussed in an honest and educated fashion with the families and the caregivers. Although full seizure control may be impossible, improved neurologic development and avoidance of self-injurious drop attacks may be worthy alternative surgical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite B-400, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: John Y K
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P David
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Adelson
mesh_terms: D038481:Anterior Temporal Lobectomy; D002648:Child; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D038421:Hemispherectomy; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods