ABSTRACT
We report a 57-year-old man who presented one month after sustaining a traumatic right temporal intracerebral hematoma with history of headache, left hemiparesis and altered sensorium of two days duration. A diagnosis of right temporal resolving hematoma was made on computed tomography scan. However, his sensorium progressively deteriorated and he underwent craniotomy and partial excision of an abscess. He was treated with appropriate antibiotics for six weeks despite of which he did not improve and died nine months later. We conclude that there should be a high index of suspicion for brain abscess in patients with traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage if the clinical and radiological picture is different from the expected course of a resolving hematoma.
ABSTRACT
Twenty five percent of patients with intractable epilepsy have surgically remediable epilepsy syndromes. This article reviews the treatment paradigm for pediatric epilepsy and also the indications, methods, and surgical options for the subgroup of patients with surgically remediable epileptic disorders based on our experience in the management of these children. The article also discusses the rationale for offering surgery and the timing of surgery in these patients. The study of surgically remediable epilepsy can best be divided into focal, sub hemispheric, hemispheric and multifocal epileptic syndromes. These syndromes have both acquired and congenital etiologies and can be treated by resective or disconnective surgery. The surgical management of these conditions (with the exception of multifocal epilepsy) provides Engel's Class 1 outcome(complete seizure freedom) in approximately 80% of children. The consequences of seizure freedom leads to a marked improvement in the quality of life of these children.The benefits to society, of allowing a child to grow to adulthood with normal cognition to earn a livelihood and contribute actively to society, cannot be understated.