Cerebral hemispherectomy for seizures with hemiplegia.

The risk-benefit ratio of this functionally complete but anatomically subtotal hemispherectomy is strongly in favor of its more widespread and early use for the small group of unfortunate seizure patients who have maximal or near maximal hemiplegia and a complete or high-grade hemianopsia, and whose seizures constitute a significant handicap in regard to schooling and psychosocial development despite an adequate trial of appropriate antiepileptic medication. The earlier the "good" hemisphere and the upper brain are spared the nociferous effect of continual bombardment by wide-spread high-amplitude epileptiform discharges, the more effectively motor, sensory, intellectual, and psychosocial development can take place in the remainder of the nervous system.