Epilepsy Surgery May Be Safe and Effective in Patients Older Than 60

More patients used antidepressants after surgery (30% vs 22%). Patients with a favorable surgical outcome were more likely than those with less favorable outcomes to be currently driving (65% vs 11%), more likely to be currently working (28% vs 8%), and less likely to be taking antidepressant medication (24% vs 47%).

“Resective epilepsy surgery not only yields favorable seizure outcomes, but [favorable] psychosocial outcomes as well,” said Vibhangini S. Wasade, MD, a neurologist at the Henry Ford Health System and lead author of the study. “Following surgery, more patients were able to drive, and those with favorable seizure outcomes were more likely to be employed full-time and less likely to be taking antidepressants. Overall, the great majority expressed satisfaction in having epilepsy surgery.”

—Erik Greb