[Experiences with surgical therapy of epilepsy in children].

A group of 15 children aged 13 months to 15 years and operated upon for focal epilepsy has been analyzed. Hemispherectomy was performed in 3 cases, lobectomy in 6 cases, and cortical excision of different extents in another 6 cases. Within a period of 5 months to 7 years from the surgical intervention 60% of the patients were practically restored to health, 20% improved, and 20% virtually unimproved. The authors discuss the problems of indication in connection with age as well as the therapeutical failures. In cases where conservative therapy failed the intervention prevented the epileptic process from encroaching upon the centrencephalic system. It is essential that the intervention be made before the occurrence of irreversible psychic changes, as these may then no longer be influenced by the intervention. There are no age limits to a surgical intervention. An accurate analysis of the functional capability of the brain tissue is absolutely necessary; what is also important, however, is specific care, in order to avoid postoperative complications.