Highlights
- •The most common reason for patients to be willing to have epilepsy surgery was to become seizure-free.
- •Many patients are willing to have surgery if their physician presented epilepsy surgery to them appropriately.
- •The important values and priorities of patients must be considered.
Abstract
Objective
The goal of the current study was to investigate the opinions of adult patients with
epilepsy (PWE) with regard to the application of epilepsy surgery for their condition.
Methods
We surveyed all the consecutive adult PWE with at least one year history of epilepsy
who were referred to our neurology clinics (Shiraz University of Medical Sciences)
from September 2022 until January 2023. Using a questionnaire, the degree of acceptance
of epilepsy surgery was measured depending on the chance of seizure freedom and risk
for surgery complications.
Results
In total, 393 adult PWE participated in the study; 180 patients (45.8%) expressed
that they would be willing to have surgery if their epilepsy doctor told them that
brain surgery was guaranteed to stop their seizures, without regard to the potential
surgery complications. The most common reasons for the patients to be willing to have
epilepsy surgery were as follows: to become seizure-free and to be able to discontinue
their antiseizure medications. The most common reasons for the patients not to be
willing to have epilepsy surgery were as follows: feeling of having the seizures under
the control with antiseizure medications and fear of surgery complications.
Conclusion
Many patients with epilepsy are willing to have epilepsy surgery if their physician
presented epilepsy surgery to them as an established safe and effective treatment
option. The important values and priorities of PWE must be considered when designing
epilepsy surgery educational materials and programs for preoperative counseling for
PWE with drug-resistant seizures.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 27, 2023
Accepted:
March 8,
2023
Received in revised form:
March 1,
2023
Received:
February 12,
2023
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
