| INVITED REVIEW |
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| Year : 2008 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 1 | Page : 35-40 |
Management in refractory epilepsy: Beyond epilepsy surgery...
Roop Gursahani
Consultant Neurologist, P. D. Hinduja National Hospital, Veer Savarkar Marg, Mahim, Mumbai - 40016, India
Correspondence Address:
Roop Gursahani
2101, Hinduja Clinic, P. D. Hinduja Hospital, Veer Savarkar Marg, Mahim, Mumbai - 400016
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1817-1745.40588
Although definititions of refractory epilepsy vary, about 40% of prevalent cases of epilepsy are not controlled by anti-epileptic drugs. A substantial proportion of this population requires palliative therapy since only a minority are candidates for epilepsy surgery. Drug therapy can be optimised after accurate classification of the epilepsy. Monotherapy is often as effective as polytherapy with fewer adverse effects. Depression and CNS adverse effects significantly impact quality of life and must be systematically screened for and treated. The ketogenic diet and vagal nerve stimulation provide substantial seizure control in a significant number of cases and may be used synergistically. Deep brain stimulation is another promising modality.
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