Epilepsy Surgery in Children with Lesional Partial Epilepsies

Surgery for epilepsy is a significant treatment alternative with favorable outcomes in the pediatric age group. In this study we present the surgical outcomes of pediatric population referred to our center. The clinical data of 126 patients (≤18 years) with lesional partial epilepsies operated in our center between 1995- 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. Parameters investigated were gender, age at seizure onset, duration of epilepsy, etiology, type and location of operation and outcome. Seizure outcome was classified according to Engel's classification. The study group consisted of 70 males (55,6%) and 56 females (44.4%). The most common etiology was malformation of cortical development followed by tumors and hippocampal sclerosis. Overall 73.8% of patients had Engel I, 13.5% Engel II and 11.9% Engel III+IV postoperative seizure outcome. The results of our pediatric patients who underwent surgery were similar to previous reports in the literature. The seriousness of the clinical picture should tempt physicians to refer the patients as soon as possible to avoid long term complications like epileptic encephalopathies and the side effects of antiepileptic drugs during the development of the young brains.