The Treatment of Epilepsy, 2nd Edition

by Editor: Simon D. Shorvon (Institute of Neurology, University College London); Editor: Emilio Perucca; Editor: David Fish (Institute of Neurology, London, UK); Editor: W E Dodson (Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA)

• ISBN13: 9780470752456
• ISBN10: 0470752459
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2008-04-01
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

"The second edition of the treatment of Epilepsy is a vital contribution to the field. The book's primary focus is on the medical and surgical evaluation and treatment of the disease. Experts around the globe who have made seminal contributions to the treatment of epilepsy have contributed to the book, which preserves its flow and focus extremely well...This book is highly recommended and is a solid reference for anybody who is involved in the evaluation and medical care of patients with epilepsy." New England Journal of Medicine 352;7There 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.

Table of Contents

Contributors

Foreword

Preface to the Second Edition

Preface to the First Edition

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

Introduction

Definitions and classifications of epilepsy

Epidemiology and prognosis of epilepsy and its treatment

Sudden death in epilepsy

Aetiology of epilepsy

Differential diagnosis of epilepsy

Mechanisms of epileptogenesis

Mechanisms of drug resistence in epilespy

Antiepileptic drug discovery

Mechanisms of antiepileptic drug action

Drug interactions in epilepsy

Principles of Medical Treatment

General principles of medical treatment

Management of newly diagnosed epilepsy

Management of epilepsy in remission

Management of epilepsy in infants

Management of epilepsy in children

Management of epilepsy in the elderly person

Management of epilepsy in people with learning disability

Emergency treatment of seizures and status epilepticus

Treatment of epilepsy in general medical conditions

Treatment of psychiatric disorders in epilepsy

The ketogenic diet

Complementary and alternative treatments in epilepsy

Reproductive aspects of epilepsy treatment

Genetic counselling in epilepsy

Diagnosis and treatment of non-epileptic seizures

Drugs used in the Treatment of Epilepsy

The choice of drugs and approach to drug treatment in epilepsy

Acetazolamide

Carbamazepine

Clobazam

Clonazepam

Short-acting and other benzodiazepines

Ethosuximide

Felbamate

Fosphenytoin

Gabapentin

Lamotrigine

Levetiracetam

Oxcarbazepine

Phenobarbital, primidone and other barbiturates

Phenytoin

Piracetam

Pregabalin

Rufinamide

Tiagabine

Topiramate

Valproate

Vigabatrin

Zonisamide

Other drugs more rarely used in the treatment of epilepsy

Antiepileptic drugs used in clinical trials

Presurgical Evaluation of Epilepsy and Epilepsy Surgery

Introduction to epilepsy surgery and its Presurgical Assessment

Scalp EEG in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy

Invasive EEG in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy

MEG in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy

MRI in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy

PET and SPECT in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy

New physiological and radiological investigations in the presurgical evaluation of epilepsy

Psychological testing in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy

The role of psychiatric assessment in presurgical evaluation

Surgery of hippocampal sclerosis

Resective surgery of neoplastic lesions for epilepsy

Resective surgery of vascular and infective lesions for epilepsy

Surgery of cortical dysgenesis for epilepsy

Surgery of post-traumatic epilepsy

Paediatric epilepsy surgery

Hemispherectomy for epilepsy

Corpus callosum section for epilepsy

Multiple subpial transection for epilepsy

Awake operations for epilepsy

Stereotactic surgery for epilepsy

Complications of epilepsy surgery

Anaesthesia for epilepsy surgery

Vagal nerve stimulation

Future surgical approaches to epilepsy

Index

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