title: Proposed criteria for referral and evaluation of children for epilepsy surgery: recommendations of the Subcommission for Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery.
abstract: The Commission on Neurosurgery of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) formed the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Subcommission in 1998 and charged it with formulating guidelines and recommendations for epilepsy surgery in childhood. Also endorsed by the Commission on Paediatrics, the following document is the consensus agreement after a meeting of 32 individuals from 12 countries in 2003. The panel agreed that insufficient class 1 evidence exists to recommend practice guidelines at this time. Instead, the panel generated criteria concerning the unique features of pediatric epilepsy patients to justify dedicated resources for specialty pediatric surgical centers, suggested guidelines for physicians for when to refer children with refractory epilepsy, and recommendations on presurgical evaluation and postoperative assessments. The panel also outlined areas of agreement and disagreement on which future research and consensus meetings should focus attention to generate practice guidelines and criteria for pediatric epilepsy surgery centers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, The Wolfson Centre, London, UK. hcross@ich.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: J Helen
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Prasanna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jayakar
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nordli
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Delalande
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duchowny
authors.forename: Heinz G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Wieser
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guerrini
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Mathern
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D000367:Age Factors; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D007391:International Cooperation; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000592:standards; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000592:standards; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000592:standards; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D013531:Surgicenters / Q000592:standards