Hemispherectomy (also known as hemidecortication or functional hemispherectomy) is the complete removal or partial removal and disconnection of almost an entire half of the brain (hemisphere).
This procedure is usually performed on children with severe and very frequent seizures at select centers in the world including Johns Hopkins. These patients typically have a severely damaged hemisphere for assorted reasons (hence the seizures) and generally are weaker on the side of the body opposite of the diseased hemisphere.
Experience has shown that less extensive surgery is not useful in this situation. Suitable for only a very few patients, hemispherectomy has proven to be a very successful type of seizure surgery. Potential risks include hydrocephalus and infection. The severe one-sided weakness present before surgery is likely to persist after surgery, although most patients are usually able to walk with some rehabilitation.
Patients also experience loss of the visual field on the weak side. When successful, this surgery cures the epilepsy.
If successful, this surgery cures your child's epilepsy. At Johns Hopkins, surgeons have performed this surgery more than 125 times since the 1980s, and helps coordinate a reunion for patients every three years.
This procedure is usually performed on children with severe and very frequent seizures at select centers in the world including Johns Hopkins. These patients typically have a severely damaged hemisphere for assorted reasons (hence the seizures) and generally are weaker on the side of the body opposite of the diseased hemisphere.
Experience has shown that less extensive surgery is not useful in this situation. Suitable for only a very few patients, hemispherectomy has proven to be a very successful type of seizure surgery. Potential risks include hydrocephalus and infection. The severe one-sided weakness present before surgery is likely to persist after surgery, although most patients are usually able to walk with some rehabilitation.
Patients also experience loss of the visual field on the weak side. When successful, this surgery cures the epilepsy.
If successful, this surgery cures your child's epilepsy. At Johns Hopkins, surgeons have performed this surgery more than 125 times since the 1980s, and helps coordinate a reunion for patients every three years.
