Epilepsy, popularly known as epilepsy, is the abnormal electrical stimulation occurring in the nerve cells in the brain and the emergence of some symptoms in the body as a result. These symptoms, called epileptic seizures, can be seen as convulsions, dullness, and loss of consciousness. Anyone can have an epileptic seizure for any reason. For example; It is possible to have a seizure when blood sugar or blood pressure drops too much, but having a single seizure does not mean that the person has epilepsy. In order to be considered a patient with epilepsy, these seizures must be continuous.
REASONS OF EPILEPSY
Epilepsy can occur due to various reasons. Tumors, AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation), blockages in brain vessels, infections, and meningitis can be counted among these reasons. It can also develop at birth or after head trauma resulting from an impact or fall. In such a case, it may take months or even years for the disease to appear, depending on the severity of the impact and the area it affects.
EPILEPSY SEIZURES
Epileptic seizures can affect a certain organ of the body. For example; While in some patients it is observed as tremors in the legs and arms, in some patients it has been observed that it can affect the whole body. Sometimes it starts in the arm or leg and then can spread to the whole body. Some patients become absent-minded while talking, become silent and continue talking after a while. In short, seizures can occur in many different ways.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
The diagnosis of epilepsy is made by neurologists using methods such as MRI, EEG and blood tests, and seizures are tried to be suppressed with medications. If the patient's seizures can be suppressed with medications and he can continue his daily life, there is no need to do anything else. However, seizures cannot be suppressed with medications, and if a surgical intervention seems to be able to eliminate the cause of the seizure, then neurosurgery becomes involved. Neurosurgeons are mostly interested in epilepsy that develops due to tumors. In this case, surgery is required to remove the tumor. In addition, if oxygen deficiency occurs during birth, the region of the brain called the Hippocampus, which has an important role in memory and navigation in the Temporal lobe, is affected by the lack of oxygen and degeneration occurs there. ion occurs. In other words, this area becomes thinner and nerve cells are damaged, and epileptic seizures may occur in these people in their youth in the future. This patient group also concerns neurosurgeons. In addition, congenital structural disorders in different parts of the brain can also cause seizures and should be evaluated by neurosurgeons.
Due to a structural disorder in any part of the brain (AVM, tumor, or if there is a defect in the brain's own tissue), that part of the brain must be surgically removed. It needs to be removed.
Approximately 5 percent of epilepsy patients need surgery. In some patient groups, batteries may also be inserted to prevent seizures. For this; A transmitter wire is wrapped around the vagus nerve in the neck, its end is connected to the battery, and the battery is placed under the skin on the chest wall. From this battery, a constant stimulus is given to that nerve, and the nerve transfers the stimulus to the brain, thus suppressing seizures.
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