Surgery is the last resort to treat epilepsy. And surgery for epilepsy serves a higher success rate of 87% to 90%. And if you don’t experience seizures for the next 2 years, then the success rate of your surgery is 95%. Different types of surgery are used according to the different levels of epilepsy you experience at different ages. Talk with your healthcare provider and confirm which type of surgery you should have for your epilepsy to lead a normal life afterward.

To learn what happens during brain surgery for epilepsy treatment, keep reading. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.

Prior to the procedure

Hair is clipped short or shaved over the section of the skull that will be removed during the operation to avoid infection. Your anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia to keep you asleep and unaware during your surgery.

For the surgery, a small, flexible tube is inserted into a vein to deliver IV fluids, anesthetics, or other medications.

During the procedure

Throughout the procedure, the heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels are monitored. During surgery, they may perform an EEG to confirm the precise location or source of the seizures.

General anesthesia is typically used for epilepsy surgery. During the procedure, the patient is unconscious. In rare cases, the surgeon may awaken the patient during the operation to assist the team. This is done for surgical planning and maps out areas of your brain that control vital functions such as speech and movement. In such cases, medication is used to alleviate pain. You will not experience any discomfort during this stage of the procedure.

You’ll be put back to sleep once the brain mapping is finished. Your neurosurgeon will use the appropriate surgical approach to treat the area of brain tissue where the seizures occur. They’ll reposition and secure your skull bone. They will then bandage your head and close the skin covering your skull.

Epilepsy surgery can take several hours.

Following the procedure

After awakening from anesthesia, the patient is placed in a special recovery area where he or she is closely monitored. The patient is usually admitted to the intensive care unit the first night following surgery. The average hospital stay for most epilepsy surgeries is three or four days.

The head will be swollen and painful upon awakening. Most people require pain medication for the first few days. An ice pack on the head may also be beneficial. Most of the postoperative swelling and pain resolve within a few weeks.

Most people cannot return to work or school for 1 to 3 months. Rest and relaxation are required for the first few weeks following epilepsy surgery, followed by resuming your normal physical activity.

The goal of epilepsy surgery is to reduce the number of seizures, and their severity, or, ideally, to be seizure-free. This goal may or may not be attainable by you. Everyone gets different results.

Even if you aren’t completely seizure-free after surgery, you may benefit from:

• A lower dose of your anti-seizure medication or a reduction in the number of medications you must take, both of which can reduce medication side effects.
• A higher likelihood of returning to work and driving.
• A lower risk of life-threatening complications, such as epilepsy-related sudden death or status epilepticus.

If the surgery is successful, there is a lower risk of depression and anxiety.

On the other hand, uncontrolled seizures can be dangerous. If you already take anti-seizure medication and your seizures aren’t controlled, adding more medications is unlikely to stop them (only 10% of the time).

Furthermore, the more medications that are tried and failed, the lower your chances of seizure management. Other risks of uncontrolled seizures include memory loss and the loss of social relationships over time if you avoid interacting with others.

You and your epilepsy surgical team must decide whether surgery is a viable option for you. To determine whether you are a candidate for surgery, you will need to undergo extensive testing. If you are a candidate, ask to speak with other people who have had the surgery that has been recommended for you, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Risks of brain surgery

Brain surgery has the potential to improve your quality of life, but it also has serious risks. Among the dangers are:

• Infection
• Reaction to anesthesia
• Bleeding
• Tissue damage to your brain cells
• Stroke\paralysis
• Headaches
• Speech issues
• loss of motor skills
• loss of vision
• Depression or mood changes
• additional seizures

The risks associated with various types of brain surgery vary. A hemispherectomy can impair your vision and mobility. Speech and memory problems can result from the removal of a specific lobe. Some people who choose corpus callosotomy have more seizures after the procedure. It is critical to discuss the potential benefits and risks with your doctor.

Doral Health and Wellness has several urgent care clinics around New York that can cater to your family’s medical needs. We also have the best medical providers, physicians and staff that are highly trained in their respective specialties. To know more about the locations of our urgent care clinics, you can visit us at Doral Health and Wellness. If you are looking for urgent care near you, you can visit Doral Health and Wellness Urgent Care. We provide urgent care for common illnesses and injuries. Additionally, we also provide comprehensive care for any related injuries and health problems. We also offer other services, such as vaccinations, immunizations, and blood testing. For more info, visit us or call 1-347-384-5690.