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Surgery for epilepsy: a systematic review of current evidence Volume 18, issue 2, June 2016

TEST YOURSELF

(1) Which of the following are associated with improved surgical outcome?

A. Presence of mesial temporal sclerosis or tumour

B. Concordant pre-operative MRI and EEG

C. History of febrile seizures

D. Unilateral interictal spikes

E. Complete surgical resection

 

(2) There has been one published trial (Wiebe et al., 2001) randomising participants to surgery or antiepileptic drug treatment. Based on the results of this trial, how many individuals per 1,000 would be expected to achieve freedom from seizures which impair awareness after one year:

(a) When receiving medical treatment?

(b) When receiving surgery?

 

(3) Which of the following should be included in the methodology of future studies on establishing the benefit, or otherwise, of surgical intervention for people with an intractable epilepsy.

A. Primary outcome measure of seizure freedom at set time points

B. Minimum of one year of follow-up

C. Assessment should be blinded

D. Quality of life measurement included

E. Randomised controlled trial design

F. Powered appropriately

G. Pre- and postoperative measures of speech and language, cognition, and social functioning

H. Pre- and postoperative measures of mental state assessment

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Answers

(1) All of the above.

 
(2) (a) 75.

(b) 500 more per 1,000 (ranging between 113 to 925 more per 1,000) or 575 per 1,000 (ranging between 188 and 1,000 per 1,000).


(3) All of them.

 

 

 

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