Epilepsy and Related Disorders

© 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The International League against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification of seizure type is the most widely accepted classification scheme for epilepsy. This chapter focuses on ILAE classification of the epilepsies and epilepsy syndromes. Broadly speaking, genetic, congenital and perinatal conditions are the most common causes of early childhood onset epilepsy, whereas in adult life, epilepsy is more likely to be result from external nongenetic causes, but this distinction is by no means absolute. Epileptic seizures feature in the differential diagnosis of many transient neurological symptoms. There are differences in the common presentations and differential diagnoses in adults, infants and children and people largely confine this description to adult patients. Epilepsy surgery is carried out with three objectives: to stop seizures, to ameliorate the seizures or to remove a progressive lesion or one that carries other risks such as haemorrhage. The chapter concentrates on the assessment, surgery and outcome of those who have surgery primarily for their epilepsy