Cognitive and behavioral outcome after epilepsy surgery in children, part of Cognition and Behaviour in Childhood Epilepsy edited by Lieven Lagae

This chapter provides an overview of what is known about neuropsychological assessment and cognitive outcome and its predictors after hemidisconnective or resective epilepsy surgery in children. Because presurgical cognitive functioning significantly correlates with postsurgical cognitive outcome, we included a section about cognitive (dys)function and its determinants in children with epilepsy, prior to surgical treatment. We summarize the current knowledge about different domains of cognitive outcome after surgery. As children with complex epilepsy and ongoing seizures have high rates of associated behaviour disorders, particularly those with focal epilepsy that are candidates for epilepsy surgery, a section on behaviour is also included.