What is hemisferectomy?

In epileptic patients who do not receive satisfactory results with drugs, surgery can become the only use of the only use. Although several types of epileptic surgery are available, there are few more radical or surprising than hemisferectomy. Usually performed in very young children, hemisferectomy is to remove one half of the brain to reduce or prevent epileptic seizures. This procedure is relatively rare and may have surprising success and recovery.

epileptic seizures may occur due to many different brain disorders. Patients who may be considered to be hemispérectomy usually suffer from seizures that occur only on one side of the brain. Hemisectomy is generally performed in patients who have not responded well to several different drug therapies, although time and age are also in decisions. Most of the evidence suggests that the younger the child is, the normal function of the brain can be obtained after surgery. For this reason, people over the age of 14 rarely undergo the procedure.

It may seem impossible that the brain could function normally after removal of half, but the procedure can leave a substantial part of the ability intact or even improve. Personality, language and memory are almost never damaged or changed by hemisferectomy. Especially in young children, the remaining half of the brain adapts to the function of the removed half. In addition, almost everyone who has successfully undergone surgery will have a significant reduction in seizure activities, and some evidence suggests that more than half will cease to entertain completely.

There are naturally risks and side effects for such extreme surgery. According to many experts, almost all patients will experience partial paralysis on the side of the body, which corresponds to the removed hemisphere of the brain. Although walking and using weapons can be possible, movement of the hands, finger and legs is usually limited and can be permanently dull.

as with almost all surgeryGical procedures also exist the risks of complications associated with hemisferectomy. Singing or bleeding may occur during surgery. If it is done incorrectly, the remaining side of the brain can experience some damage. The vision may be blurred or affected and some retardations of mental abilities are possible. Short -term side effects include weakness, depression, language problems and exhaustion.

Without complications, recovery from hemisferectomy can be relatively short. Patients who have healthy recovery can leave the hospital within one week and can return to normal activities within two or three months. Monitoring is naturally very important during this time to measure brain function and possible seizures. Patients may have to stay on a seizure of treatment even after surgery, although the seizures are likely to be little and far between.