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.

Contents

Preface: The drug treatment of epilepsy between 1938-1955, with special reference to Epilepsia the Journal of the International League Against Epilepsy

Section 1: Introduction

1. Definitions and classifications of epilepsy
2. Epidemiology and prognosis of epilepsy and its treatment
3. Sudden death in epilepsy
4. Aetiology of epilepsy
5. Differential diagnosis of epilepsy
6. Mechanisms of epileptogenesis
7. Mechanisms of drug resistence in epilespy
8. Antiepileptic drug discovery
9. Mechanisms of antiepileptic drug action
10. Drug interactions in epilepsy

Section 2: Principles of Medical Treatment

11. General principles of medical treatment
12. Management of newly diagnosed epilepsy
13. Management of epilepsy in remission
14. Management of epilepsy in infants
15 Management of epilepsy in children
16. Management of epilepsy in the elderly person
17. Management of epilepsy in people with learning disability
18. Emergency treatment of seizures and status epilepticus
19. Treatment of epilepsy in general medical conditions
20. Treatment of psychiatric disorders in epilepsy
21. The ketogenic diet
22. Complementary and alternative treatments in epilepsy
23. Reproductive aspects of epilepsy treatment
24. Genetic counselling in epilepsy
25. Diagnosis and treatment of non-epileptic seizures

Section 3: Drugs used in the Treatment of Epilepsy

26. The choice of drugs and approach to drug treatment in epilepsy
27. Acetazolamide
28. Carbamazepine
29. Clobazam
30. Clonazepam
31. Short-acting and other benzodiazepines
32. Ethosuximide
33. Felbamate
34. Fosphenytoin
35. Gabapentin
36. Lamotrigine
37. Levetiracetam
38. Oxcarbazepine
39. Phenobarbital, primidone and other barbiturates
40. Phenytoin
41. Piracetam
42. Pregabalin
43. Rufinamide
44. Tiagabine
45. Topiramate
46. Valproate
47. Vigabatrin
48. Zonisamide
49. Other drugs more rarely used in the treatment of epilepsy
50. Antiepileptic drugs used in clinical trials

Section 4: Presurgical Evaluation of Epilepsy and Epilepsy Surgery

51. Introduction to epilepsy surgery and its Presurgical Assessment
52. Scalp EEG in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy
53. Invasive EEG in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy
54. MEG in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy
55. MRI in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy
56. PET and SPECT in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy
57. New physiological and radiological investigations in the presurgical evaluation of epilepsy
58. Psychological testing in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy
59. The role of psychiatric assessment in presurgical evaluation
60. Surgery of hippocampal sclerosis
61. Resective surgery of neoplastic lesions for epilepsy
62. Resective surgery of vascular and infective lesions for epilepsy
63. Surgery of cortical dysgenesis for epilepsy
64. Surgery of post-traumatic epilepsy
65. Paediatric epilepsy surgery
66. Hemispherectomy for epilepsy
67. Corpus callosum section for epilepsy
68. Multiple subpial transection for epilepsy
69. Awake operations for epilepsy
70. Stereotactic surgery for epilepsy
71. Complications of epilepsy surgery
72. Anaesthesia for epilepsy surgery
73. Vagal nerve stimulation
74. Future surgical approaches to epilepsy