title: Quality of life and epilepsy surgery in childhood and adolescence.
abstract: Epilepsy can affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients. The temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is often refractory to medication, which has an adverse impact on QOL. The surgery can be a form to control the seizures and to improve the QOL of the patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to verify the QOL of children and adolescents with TLE who underwent surgery for epilepsy, comparing QOL before and after surgery and investigating which parameters showed improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used semi-structured questionnaire in the pre-and post-surgery in 13 patients. The data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis showed that there was general improvement in the QOL postoperatively. There was improvement in general health issues, adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs and the relationship with parents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When properly indicated, epilepsy surgery improves quality of life of patients with TLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, FCM, Unicamp, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabella C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: Catarina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Elisabete A P
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Kátia M R
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schmutzler
authors.forename: Marilisa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants