An Overview on Resective Surgery for Drug Resistant Focal Epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy occurs in 1% of the US population. Approximately 30% to 35% of patients with seizures have drug-resistant epilepsy, defined as failure of 2 antiepileptic medications given at appropriate doses. Of the 750 000 persons in the United States with drug-resistant epilepsy, only 1500 undergo epilepsy surgery per year.Epilepsy surgery is indicated for patients with focal seizures who do not respond to appropriate antiepileptic drug therapy consisting of 2 or more medications.