Operative Techniques in Epilepsy Surgery

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder affecting an estimated 1% of the population, about 20 to 30%
of which experience seizures inadequately controlled by medical therapy alone. Advances in anatomic
and functional imaging modalities, stereotaxy, and the integration of neuronavigation during surgery
have led to cutting-edge treatment options for patients with medically refractory epilepsy. Operative
Techniques in Epilepsy Surgery, Second Edition by Gordon Baltuch, Arthur Cukiert, and an impressive
international group of contributors has been updated and expanded, reflecting the newest treatments for
pediatric and adult epilepsy.
Seven sections with 30 chapters encompass surgical planning, invasive EEG studies, cortical resection,
intraoperative mapping, disconnection, neuromodulation, and further topics. Twelve cortical resection
chapters cover surgical approaches such as amygdalohippocampectomy; hippocampal transection;
frontal lobe, central region, and posterior quadrant resections; and microsurgery versus endoscopy for
hypothalamic hamartomas. Disconnection procedures discussed in section five include corpus
callosotomy, hemispherectomy, and endoscopic-assisted approaches. Well-established procedures such
as vagus nerve and deep brain stimulation are covered in the neuromodulation section, while the last
section discusses radiosurgery for medically intractable cases.