Long-term socioeconomic outcome following surgical intervention in the treatment of refractory epilepsy in childhood and adolescence

• Published in: Child's nervous system Vol. 14; no. 8; pp. 362 - 365
• Main Authors: KEENE, D. L, LOY-ENGLISH, I, VENTUREYRA, E. C. G
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.08.1998
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adolescent; Adult; Automobile Driving; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Education - statistics & numerical data; Employment - statistics & numerical data; Epilepsy - economics; Epilepsy - surgery; Female; Humans; Infant; Interviews as Topic; Male; Marital Status; Medical sciences; Neurosurgery; Ontario; Quality of Life; Skull, brain, vascular surgery; Socioeconomic Factors; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Treatment Outcome; Ontario; Human; Nervous system diseases; Epilepsy; Professional status; Long term; Cerebral disorder; Refractory; Treatment; Surgery; Central nervous system disease; Adolescent; Socioeconomical impact; Evolution; Child
• ISSN: 0256-7040; 1433-0350
• DOI: 10.1007/s003810050245

Surgical treatment of refractory epilepsy in childhood and adolescence has been shown to be effective in reducing the seizure frequency. This paper examines the question: "Does this result in a better socioeconomic outcome in later years?" Patients who underwent a surgical procedure for the treatment of their medically refractory epilepsy at our hospital, had more than 2-years' follow-up, and were less than 18 years old at time of survey were included. From a retrospective chart review, age at onset and at surgery, duration of seizures prior to surgery, years of follow-up, type of surgery, and neurological status were obtained. From a telephone survey, seizure frequency after surgery, marital, financial and driving status, level of education, and employment status were ascertained. Sixty-four patients in our epileptic surgical series meet entry criteria. Significantly higher levels of education, employment status and independence were found in patients with a class I Engel outcome compared to other Engel outcomes.