Question 1

can you tell me about left hemispherectomy?

Accepted Answer

Hemispherectomy: A hemispherectomy is a procedure where the left hemisphere of the brain is removed or disconnected from the brain. It is primarily used for treatment of certain types of seizure disorders.

Question 2

hemispherectomy on a young child, is this okay?

Accepted Answer

Very good question: This type of drastic surgical treatment of intractable epilepy is considered after all other medical treatments fail.  Your neurologist/neurosurgeon can give you an answer regarding reasonable expectation of surgical outcome.

Question 3

question about hemispherectomy. can you be paralyzed from it?

Accepted Answer

Yes: More likely than paralysis on the opposite side of the body is weakness or loss of fine finger movement or coordination. There is always a loss of visual fields on the opposite side. The degree of weakness is related, in part, to the age of the patient. The younger it is done, the less the ultimate weakness seen.

Question 4

how much of the brain is removed during hemispherectomy?

Accepted Answer

One-half: The brain.  Other side will not function; dominat side may cause lack of speech.  Rarely done.  Natural occurence has observed some incredible function.

Question 5

epilepsy the only reason for hemispherectomy?

Accepted Answer

No: Children with hemiparesis secondary to porencephaly or focal/hemispheric malformations such as  hemimegalencephaly or sturge-weber syndrome are candidates as well.

Question 6

my child still has seizures. what are risks of hemispherectomy?

Accepted Answer

Talk to neurosurgeon: The fact that a hemispherectomy is a consideration indicates your child has intractable seizures. Hopefully the best outcome from a hemispherectomy would be stopping seizures. I would talk to the surgeon about the risks. Removing a large part of the brain would result in weakness even paralysis. Surgeon would know that most as he is the one doing the procedure.

Question 7

what's the difference between a hemispherectomy and the split brain procedure?

Accepted Answer

Location: Hemispherectomy is the removal of one half of the brain (left or right side) whereas the split brain procedure is disconnecting the left and right sides of the brain from communicating by cutting the fibers of the corpus callosum.

Question 8

please let me know if there is a difference between a hemispherectomy and the split brain procedure?

Accepted Answer

Hemispherectomy: Hemispherectomy is a removal or a disconnection of one of the hemispheres of the brain, of which you have two. A split brain procedure is when the surgeon cuts the nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres together - a structure called the corpus callosum. Both procedures are used in the treatment of severe intractable epilepsy.

Question 9

supposing you have a hemispherectomy (half of your brain removed). what would they fill the space with?

Accepted Answer

Hemispherectomy: Soem of the brain from the other side expands into the space but the space is mostly filled with cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that brain resides in.

Question 10

i get epilepsy care but i still have seizures. how about hemispherectomy?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: There is a great deal of work-up that must be done prior to a hemispherectomy.  There are some great new medicines, devices such as the vagal nerve stimulator and other forms of surgery that can be done.  But it all depends on what type of epilepsy you have.  Your neurologist can better explain these options knowing your history and details.  Good luck.

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Can you tell me about left hemispherectomy?

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Hemispherectomy on a young child, is this okay?

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Question about hemispherectomy. can you be paralyzed from it?

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How much of the brain is removed during hemispherectomy?

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Epilepsy the only reason for hemispherectomy?

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My child still has seizures. what are risks of hemispherectomy?

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What's the difference between a hemispherectomy and the split brain procedure?

A member asked:

Please let me know if there is a difference between a hemispherectomy and the split brain procedure?

A member asked:

Supposing you have a hemispherectomy (half of your brain removed). what would they fill the space with?

A member asked:

I get epilepsy care but i still have seizures. how about hemispherectomy?

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