Seizure and the Risk for Seizure Recurrence Among Individuals Who Have Undergone Surgery for Epilepsy

Abstract

Summary: Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder for which recurrent seizures are the main symptom. Seizures resulting from epilepsy may culminate in unpredictable and sudden incapacitation, and thus are of significant concern to those interested in driver safety. Surgical therapy is one of the main treatment options for patients who do not respond to pharmacotherapy. Although approximately two thirds of individuals who undergo the most common types of surgery for epilepsy become seizure free, a significant proportion of these individuals will experience seizure recurrence. A systematic review and metaanalysis was conducted to examine the likelihood of seizure recurrence among individuals who have undergone surgery for epilepsy. Specifically, we were interested in quantifying the relationship between time since last seizure and the likelihood that a seizure will occur within the following year. Our results indicate that the longer the time that has elapsed since the occurrence of the last seizure, the lower the risk for seizure recurrence in the following year. The average annual risk for experiencing seizure recurrence among individuals who have remained seizure free for ≥8 years is less than 2% and less than 1% for those who have remained seizure free for ≥10 years. These findings have important implications for regulatory agencies with responsibility for road safety; particularly those agencies that regulate safety sensitive industries.