The duration of temporal lobe epilepsy and seizure outcome after epilepsy surgery

To assess the effect of the duration of epilepsy on the outcome of epilepsy surgery in non-lesional medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy we reviewed the outcome of 76 patients.MethodsAll patients had anterior temporal resections for “non-lesional” temporal epilepsy (excluding any patient with tumours or vascular malformations but including patients with hippocampal sclerosis). Outcome at one year was assessed using Engel's scale.Results67% had a good outcome (Engel I or II). The mean duration of epilepsy was 23.0 years (range 2.9–46.9 years). Overall, there was no significant difference between patients with good outcome (mean duration 22.4 years) and poor outcome (mean duration 24.2 years) (p = 0.49). The proportion of patients with good outcome was slightly higher in the shorter duration groups. (Duration less than 10 years 75%, 10–19 years 71%, 20–29 years 65%, 30–39 years 62%, and 40–49 years 60% good outcome, p = 0.95).ConclusionWe found no significant associations between outcome and duration of epilepsy.