Epilepsy: Clinical Review and Surgical Options

Abstract

Epilepsy is the fourth leading neurologic disorder in the United States and affects the quality of life of approximately 2.9 million Americans. Despite modern progress in medicine and technology, the disease may prove to be drug resistant, a condition that serves as a primary indication to consider invasive treatment modalities. Current evidence supports the efficacy of early surgical intervention for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, although this approach continues to be underused. The positive outcomes of epilepsy surgery are a result of multidisciplinary efforts, and perioperative nurses play a vital role in the continuum of care for this patient population. In the effort to optimize nursing care for patients with epilepsy, this article provides a clinical review of epilepsy as a neurologic disorder and specifically focuses on surgical interventions and perioperative nursing considerations.

Perception and Attitude of the General Population towards Epilepsy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

“…In our study, more than 80% of individuals believed that epilepsy affected all ages. This is true since epilepsy affects all age groups with a bimodal distribution (childhood and elderly) 1…”

“…Epilepsy, or recurrent seizures, is a chronic and serious neurological disorder characterized by episodes of vigorous shaking and disturbed brain activities 1. There were only a small number of published studies about the condition in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, all of which were merely case reports and small community and hospital-based statistics.…”

Antiepileptic Drugs Usage in Pregnant Women with Epilepsy in Saudi Arabia

“…It affects people of all age groups with no sex preference. 1 In women, epilepsy usually manifests in the reproductive age group due to changes in hormonal cycles, reproductive alterations, and pregnancy complications. 2 Antiepileptic drugs are active compounds that target the central nervous system to reduce seizure incidence by different biochemical mechanisms, which eventually reduce pathological hyperexcitability of the cerebral cortex.…”