An operation is the only option open to people whose epilepsy does not respond to medication. Surgeons then remove the area of the brain that is causing the epileptic seizures. In her doctoral dissertation, Sabine Uijl argues that deciding whether or not to operate can be done more efficiently.
In patients with unambiguous results from MRIs, EEGs (electroencephalogram) between seizures, and EEGs during seizures, the decision on whether or not to operate can be taken without doing any additional testing. But doctors should make PET (positron emission tomography) scans more often, especially in people whose results from MRIs and video EEG monitoring are inconclusive. Also, in most people the Wada test can be performed unilaterally, while in the Netherlands this test is usually performed bilaterally. The Wada test is used to find out which brain hemisphere contains vital brain functions like speech and memory.
During her research, Uijl found she was only moderately able to predict which patients would be seizure-free a year after the operation.
Sabine Uijl will receive her PhD on January 31 at Utrecht University.
Thursday January 31, 2008