Epilepsy Surgery for Pathologically Proven Hippocampal Sclerosis Provides Long‐term Seizure Control and Improved Quality of Life

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Abstract
Summary: Purpose: To examine long‐term seizure and quality‐of‐life outcome in a homogeneous group of patients after temporal lobectomy with pathologically proven hippocampal sclerosis (HS). Previous research has had limited follow‐up (generally Methods: Fifty consecutive patients were identified as having had a temporal lobectomy for the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy at Royal Melbourne Hospital with pathologically proven HS and ≥2 years' follow‐up. All patients were sent a postal survey concerning seizure activity, quality of life (QOLIE‐89), and antiepileptic drug (AED) use. The mean follow‐up was 5.8 years (range, 2–9.2). Results: The rate of complete postoperative seizure freedom was 82% at 12 months, 76% at 24 months, and 64% at 63 months (no further seizure recurrences observed after this time). A class I seizure outcome was achieved by 83.3% of patients. Patients with better seizure outcome had significantly better quality of life (Kendall's tau =–234, p < 0.01). Seizure recurrence was associated with a reduction in AED intake or absorption in five (29%) of 17 cases, including three of the five patients with a first seizure recurrence after 24 months after surgery. Conclusions: Temporal lobectomy provides continued long‐term seizure control in the majority of patients with HS. However, patients remain at risk of seizure recurrence ≥2 years after surgery. Long‐term quality of life is dependent on seizure outcome.