title: Health-related quality of life before and after pediatric epilepsy surgery: the influence of seizure outcome on changes in physical functioning and social functioning.
abstract: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome in pediatric epilepsy surgery, but there are few studies that utilize presurgical ratings to assess the effect of surgery on HRQOL. We collected parental ratings on the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QOLCE) questionnaire for 28 children who participated in neuropsychological assessment before and after epilepsy surgery. Our results revealed significant improvements in overall HRQOL after surgery, especially in physical and social activities. These changes were apparent despite generally unchanged intellectual and psychological functioning. Children with better seizure outcome had more improvement in HRQOL; however, improvements were not statistically different among children with Engel class I, II, and III outcomes. Our results suggest that children can experience significant improvements in HRQOL following epilepsy surgery even when neuropsychological functioning remains unchanged. Moreover, improvements in HRQOL appear evident in children who experience any worthwhile improvement in seizure control (Engel class III or better).
authors: Pediatric Neuropsychology, Dell Children's Medical Center, Austin, TX 78723, USA. jbtitus@seton.org
authors: Jeffrey B
authors: JB
authors: Titus
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Lee
authors: Aimen
authors: A
authors: Kasasbeh
authors: Liu Lin
authors: LL
authors: Thio
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Stephenson
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Steger-May
authors: David D
authors: DD
authors: Limbrick
authors: Matthew D
authors: MD
authors: Smyth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome