Reducing Disability among Epilepsy Patients: Early Referral for Surgery in Medically Intractable Epilepsy

Introduction: Epilepsy is a disabling neurological disorder that is found in 0.5-1% of the population (Zupanc, Werner, Schwabe, O’Connor, Marcuccilli,  Hecox, et al., 2010). The concept of surgery as a possible cure for epilepsy has gradually been introduced into the medical field over the past 10 years however physicians tend to resort to surgery as a last resort which may be too late for some (Passaro, 2011). Many patients who suffer from epilepsy cannot drive until they are seizure free; 20-30% are not seizure free even after being placed on a number of antiepileptic drugs (Zupanc et al., 2010).

Goals and Objectives: This project aims to identify how early patients with medically intractable epilepsy should be referred for surgery and list recommendations for both health care providers and patients.

Evaluation tools and Methodology: A survey using a Likert scale comprising of questions rated on a scale of one to five will be administered to epilepsy patients and healthcare providers rating Epilepsy surgery and temporal lobe epilepsy and its role in reducing disability. The results will then be collated and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to yield the outcome.

Recommendations: If two first-line anti-epileptic drugs have been used for a patient with no signs of improvement the chances that an additional anti-epileptic drug would cure the individual are as low as 5 – 10 % (Passaro, 2011). Surgery should not be a last minute decision to cure epilepsy; it should be an early intervention offered as soon as needed to epileptic patients.