Abstracts

To determine the effect of epilepsy duration on seizure-freedom following resective epilepsy surgery. A retrospective review of database information for patients treated with resective surgery between August of 1991 and 2001 in Milwaukee. General demographic information was reviewed including gender, age of seizure onset, age at time of surgery, epilepsy syndrome, and medications. Evaluative information including radiographic, neurophysiological, and neuropsychological data was included in this database. Outcome data at 6 months was compared for groups seizure-free or not with respect to the duration of their epilepsy prior their surgery. Pearson[apos]s chi- squared statistical analysis was used. We found complete data on 206 of 280 resections completed in Milwaukee from 1991 to 2001. Duration of epilepsy was 1-50 years (Mean=20). Temporal lobe resections were most frequent (153) followed by frontal resections (27) and then miscellaneous procedures (36). Patient[apos]s were divided into two groups, seizure-free and not seizure-free at 6 months . Statistical analyses showed no relationship between duration of epilepsy and post-operative seizure status for the entire group or for the temporal lobe resection patients. Comparisons for the smaller surgical groups showed no trends but analyses were limited by small sample size. (Please see Table)[table1] Seizure-freedom following epilepsy surgery is not influenced by epilepsy duration in our study. This finding supports use of epilepsy surgery independent of epilepsy duration.