Long term follow-up of the first 70 operated adults in the Goteborg Epilepsy Surgery Series with respect to seizures, psychosocial outcome and use of antiepileptic drugs.

OBJECTIVE

To compare long term (10 years) seizure outcome, psychosocial outcome and use of antiepileptic drugs (AED) with the 2 year follow-up in adults after resective epilepsy surgery.

METHODS

All adults (n = 70) who underwent resective epilepsy surgery from 1987 to 1995 in the Göteborg Epilepsy Surgery Series were included. Fifty-four had undergone temporal lobe resections and 16 extratemporal resections (12 frontal). A cross-sectional follow-up in the form of a semistructured interview was performed in late 2003.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 12.4 years (range 8.6-16.2). Of the 70 patients (51% males), five (7%) were dead (three as a result of non-epilepsy related causes). Of the 65 patients interviewed, 38 (58%) were seizure-free at the long term follow-up: 65% of the patients with temporal lobe resections and 36% of the patients with extratemporal resections. Of the 35 patients who were seizure-free at the 2 year follow-up, 3 (9%) had seizures at the long term follow-up. Of the 30 patients who had seizures at the 2 year follow-up, 6 (20%) were seizure-free at the long term follow-up. Of all 65 patients, 45 (69%) had the same seizure status as the 2 year follow-up. Sixteen (25%) had an improved seizure status and 4 (6%) had a worsened status. Of the seizure-free patients, 11 (29%) had ceased taking AED, 28 (74%) were working and 25 (66%) had a driving license.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult patients who are seizure-free 2 years after resective epilepsy surgery are most likely to still be seizure-free 10 years later. Most are working and have obtained a driving license.