Evaluation of intractable epilepsy. Invasive monitoring

Abstract

Accurate localization of the epileptogenic zone is the fundamental key factor for successful epilepsy surgery. Despite the progress achieved in the field of neuroimaging, invasive intracranial recording is still the gold standard that helps recognize the patient population who may profit from surgery. Meticulous implantation of intracranial electrodes and judicious interpretation of their data is a definite need in a successful epilepsy program. Few centers in the Arab world are involved in that domain. Moreover, the society itself is not well informed to appreciate the potentials of surgical treatment of seizure disorders. In this review article, we will go over various types of intracranial recordings, discussing their indications, and the last updates for each. Some of the cases carried out at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon will be illustrated as examples of our current practice. Then, the future of epilepsy monitoring will be highlighted in brief.