Epilepsy surgery program in Tunisia, the Charles Nicolle Hospital experience.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy surgery is the best treatment in case of intractable epilepsy. However, it is underused in developing countries, creating an enormous treatment gap. On 2006, an epilepsy surgery program was set up in the Neurological Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia. AIM: To describe its establishment and to emphasize on its originality that is an exchange and surgery decision taken by two Neurological teams via the internet. METHODS: Patients underwent a phase 1 presurgical evaluation at the Neurological Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis. It included a detailed clinical history, a neurological evaluation, brain MRI, a continuous video EEG scalp monitoring and a neuropsychological evaluation. RESULTS: According to the different electro clinical and radiological findings, the surgery indication was taken between the Neurological department of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis and the Neurophysiological Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital in Rouen through the EUMEDCONNECT network project. ATL was performed and the four patients are actually seizure free. CONCLUSION: Epilepsy surgery is actually a possible treatment option in Tunisia and should be indicated in patients with intractable partial seizures.