Is surgery used to treat epilepsy?
Yes, brain surgery for epilepsy is performed, but only in a small percentage of cases, and only when all other treatments fail to adequately control seizures. The area of the brain with abnormally discharging neurons is surgically removed, if it is possible to identify this area and remove it safely. Or, in certain patients without a well–defined epilepsy focus, surgically disconnecting or isolating the abnormal area so that seizures no longer spread to the neighbouring normal brain can help. As with any operation, there are risks to epilepsy surgery. In patients with an identified seizure focus, the success rate of surgery is up to 80%.