CORPUS CALLOSOTOMY IS AN UNDERUTILIZED PROCEDURE IN CHILDREN

It is obviously impossible to determine whether corpus callosotomy is an under-or overutilized procedure in children. However, consistent results for the procedure performed on carefully selected patients have been reported from major epilepsy centers. The procedure generally is well tolerated in children, with very few reported adverse effects. The procedure has been used in the most severe of epileptics with favorable results when patients are selected with the goal of ameliorating generalized atonic, myoclonic, tonic, and tonic-clonic seizures. Well-designed prospective studies are certainly needed to better understand the outcomes of callosotomy, but, until these studies are available, children with severe intractable epilepsy should at least have the procedure considered in the management of their condition.