Underutilization of Epilepsy Surgery in ASEAN countries

Approximately 70 million people currently live with epilepsy worldwide [1]. The availability and accessibility of antiepileptic drugs has been an issue for developing countries. In Asia, the treatment gap has ranged from 28% to as high as 98% [2]. For those who received antiepileptic drugs, there were about one-third of patients who still continue to have seizures [3]. Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy are potential candidates for surgery especially those with surgically remediable syndrome, such as mesial temporal sclerosis or focal cortical dysplasia.

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