Epilepsy Surgery in Hyderabad
Epilepsy is one of the common neurological problems. It is a brain disorder that causes recurring seizures. A seizure is a sudden change in behaviour due to a change in the electrical activity in the brain. All the seizures may not be due to epilepsy as several other brain injuries can also cause seizures. If you had at least two unprovoked seizures, then you will be diagnosed with epilepsy.
Epilepsy can be treated with medications and surgery might be required. In some cases, the patient may need lifelong treatment to reduce seizures.
What Causes Epilepsy?
In most people, there is no specific cause for epilepsy. But the following can be the possible risk factors of epilepsy:
- Genes: Some types of seizures may run in your families and you are likely to have a seizure.
- Age: Though epilepsy is common at any age, it is commonly seen in children and older adults.
- Head injury: A head injury due to slip and fall and car accidents can also cause epilepsy.
- Prenatal injury: Brain damage can happen even before childbirth due to oxygen deficiency, poor nutrition, and an infection in the mother.
- Mesial temporal sclerosis: This condition is a scar in the inner part of your brain near the ear. This can lead to a focal seizure.
- Development issues: Some development issues that affect the brain such as polymicrogyria, autism, etc can lead to epilepsy.
- Brain infections: Brain infections such as meningitis, encephalitis and neurocysticercosis can also cause epilepsy.
How Do I Know If I Have Epilepsy?
A seizure is a common sign of epilepsy. Seizures can affect the functioning of the brain and the signs vary based on the type of seizure you experience. The following are the signs:
- Loss of awareness and consciousness
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Uncontrollable movements of arms and legs and muscle jerking
- Difficulty in talking and understanding
- Confusion
- Changes in senses such as taste, smell, and hearing
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling of numbness
Patients who have epilepsy experience the same type of seizure each time. So, the signs in each episode are also the same. Based on the location where your brain’s abnormal activity begins and how a seizure occurs, seizures are broadly classified as focal and generalized seizures.
The seizures that appear in all parts of the brain are called generalized seizures. Whereas the seizures that occur due to abnormal activity in one part of the brain are called focal seizures.
Diagnosis and Treatment for Epilepsy
If you experience two unprovoked seizures, then you might have epilepsy. The doctor will conduct a physical exam and will also ask about your medical history and your family’s medical history. He conducts a neurological test to determine your behaviour, mental function, etc. He conducts an Electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the electrical activity in your brain. He may also conduct an MRI scan to look for any tumors and other abnormalities in the brain.
The doctor begins the treatment with medications and diet therapy. If these treatments do not work, then surgery might be performed. Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy is one of the best neurosurgeons in Hyderabad and has helped several patients suffering from epilepsy.
Before deciding on surgery, Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy will carefully evaluate you to know if you are right for surgery. If he determines that you can undergo surgery, he suggests the right surgery for you. During surgery, he removes the part of the brain that causes seizures.
Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy performs surgery only if he determines:
- The seizures are due to abnormal activity in a well-defined region of the brain
- The operated portion of the brain does not cause any speech, hearing, or vision problems
What Different Surgeries Does Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy Perform?
Based on the type of seizure you experience; Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy can perform the following different surgeries:
- Focal resection
- Lesionectomy
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Corpus Callosotomy
- Hemispherectomy
- Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT)
- Multiple Subpial Transections
The results of surgery are based on the type of surgery you have undergone. The common expectation with surgery is the reduction of seizures using anti-epileptic drugs. If you do not experience seizures for one year, you can discontinue using medications. If seizures occur, you may need to resume using anti-seizure drugs.
How Can Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy Help You?
Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy provides personalized and quality care for patients. He has a multidisciplinary team and the best facilities to evaluate patients for surgery. He focuses on offering minimally invasive surgical treatments to ensure proper care of patients and to improve their quality of life. Apart from performing surgery, our team also provides proper care during your recovery. If you experience unprovoked seizures, contact Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy today for immediate assistance.