OUTCOME FOLLOWING CORPUS CALLOSOTOMY

Although corpus callosotomy has been performed since 1940 to treat sev ere medically intractable seizures, there remains controversy as to wh en, or even if, the surgery should be done. Unlike most surgical thera pies for epilepsy where the epileptic focus is removed, corpus calloso tomy interrupts the propagation of epileptic discharges. The procedure is primarily used in patients with secondarily generalized seizures w ith or without drop attacks in whom focal resection is not possible. T he goal of this surgery is to improve functioning and well-being. In t his study, we retrospectively reviewed records from 28 patients underg oing corpus callosotomy to assess improvement following surgery. Paren ts and patients were also sent a questionnaire to assess quality of Li fe. While surgery reduced the frequency of seizures, definite improvem ents in quality of life were limited only to patients with frequent da ily drop attacks preoperatively. We believe corpus callosotomy offers a significant improvement of both seizure control and quality of life in children with frequent drop attacks of tonic, myoclonic, or atonic origin. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.