There is a wide variety of different types of epilepsy and seizures and a large array of available treatments suited to differing clinical situations. Consequently, the successful treatment of epilepsy is a complex process involving careful and rational analysis of a large number of variables and is rarely achieved. In recent years, there have been rapid advances both in medical and surgical treatments and and the complexity of treatment has increased still further. There remain important unresolved issues and controversies. Most of the existing large books on the subject either concentrate too much on the biology and phenomenology of epilepsy at the expense of therapy or else fail to balance the medical and surgical treatments available. This book aims to be the definitive textbook on medical and surgical treatment of epilepsy and to act as a clinical reference book with a strong practical bias.
It will take the form of a detailed review and distillation of the literature rather than a presentation of individual research and will provide answers to the diversity of questions encountered in day to day clinical practice. In this way, the clinician will be guided through the difficult decision-making processes involved in the successful diagnosis and therapy.
After a concise summary of the recent scientific developments in epileptology and discussion of the classification and diagnosis of epilepsy, the large medical will cover in detail the indications, clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and outcome of drug treatment. The surgical section will cover indications, patient selection, pre-surgical assessment, surgical technique, anaesthesia, complications and outcome.
