Should we reconsider epilepsy surgery? The motivation of patients once rejected.
The pre-surgical work-up of patients with medically refractory epilepsy changes with the availability of new diagnostic procedures. New diagnostic investigations may also open up prospects for patients rejected in the past. A cohort of 71 Dutch patients rejected for epilepsy surgery 0.5-5 years earlier were approached to evaluate their willingness to undergo novel techniques. 64 (90%) responded to a questionnaire evaluating social and medical status, quality of life (QoL) and motivation to be reconsidered for epilepsy surgery. Four patients (6%) did not have seizures during the last 6 months. 56 patients (88%) were highly motivated to undergo new diagnostic procedures. Inability to localize the seizure focus had been the reason for rejection in 70% of these. We conclude that most patients once rejected for epilepsy surgery would like to benefit from novel techniques.
Zijlmans
Maeike
M
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. G.J.M.Zijlmans@umcutrecht.nl
Buskens
Erik
E
Hersevoort
Maaike
M
Huiskamp
Geertjan
G
van Huffelen
Alexander C
AC
Leijten
Frans S S
FS
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D017281:Cost of Illness; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology