Functional Hemispherectomy

Abstract

Functional hemispherectomy is a unique surgery for certain types of medically intractable epilepsy in its indication and in its technique. Cortical functions of the affected hemisphere are abolished immediately and completely by the procedure. However, patients'functional recovery can be drastic and often brings remarkable improvement in their intelligence and sociability as they grow up. Recent developments and advances in the surgical technique facilitated a minimizing of the surgical invasion as well as the risk of complications. This procedure could be favorably applied as a powerful therapeutic modality to the intractable epilepsies to which this surgery is indicated.