Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes we can prevent epilepsy. The most common ways to reduce your risk of developing epilepsy are: Have a healthy pregnancy. Some problems during pregnancy and childbirth may lead to epilepsy. Follow a prenatal care plan with your healthcare provider to keep you and your baby healthy. Prevent head injuries Lower the chances of stroke and heart disease. Be up to date on your vaccinations. Wash your hands and prepare food safely to prevent worm infections such as cysticercosis  

Self-management is what one should do to take care of self. You can learn how to manage seizures and keep an active and full life. Begin with these tips: Take your medicine. Discuss with your doctor or nurse when you have questions. Recognize seizure triggers (such as flashing or bright lights). Keep a record of your seizures. Get enough sleep. Lower stress.

We recommend continuing the medication for at least two years, after which medications can be reduced and even stopped in certain cases where the seizures are well controlled.

Epilepsy surgery is a carefully planned procedure, carried out under optimal circumstances to remove the region of brain causing the seizures, and to spare parts of the brain necessary for everyday functions. Complications are very infrequent in epilepsy surgery, major complications like motor deficits, language deficits, vegetative states and disabilities are seen in 3-5% of cases. Other treatable complications like infections, prolonged hospitalizations, transient deficits, speech problems, mood problems, visual field deficits are common and do not alter the normal daily life. Overall, epilepsy surgery is safe surgery, and it improves quality of life of many patients and their care takers significantly.  

Chances of seizure control depend on many variables and varies between 50-90%. If MRI shows some lesion which could be completely removed, then 9 out of 10 people can achieve seizure freedom and almost 6 out of 10 patients can be off medicine. However, outcome is in the magnitude of 50% with palliative surgeries. Outcome typically depends on the responsible pathology.

Epilepsy surgeries are of two types. In patients where we find a small, focal brain area responsible for epilepsy, we go for resection of that area. These surgeries are called curative surgeries where once that area is removed; patient will be mostly free of epilepsy. However, there is a group of patients in which a large area is responsible, or we could not define a small area or removing complete area is not feasible; surgeries are meant to just reduce seizure frequency and improve quality of life. These surgeries are called palliative surgeries.

Before your initial appointment with a vascular surgeon in Whitefield at Aster Whitefield, make a list of the questions you would like to ask, as well as any pertinent medical history and symptoms. It's also a good idea to record any lifestyle choices you make, like smoking or working out regularly.

Vascular surgeons at Aster use advanced technologies, including duplex ultrasonography, CT angiography, and MRI, to visualize and evaluate vascular diseases. Additionally, they use less intrusive methods like endovascular surgery, which requires less recovery time and has fewer problems than open surgery.

In the course of a patient's care, vascular surgeons at Aster diagnose vascular disorders, go over possible courses of action, and perform any required surgical procedures. In order to obtain the best results for their patients, they collaborate with other healthcare experts and place a strong emphasis on preventative and management techniques.

Peripheral artery disease, aneurysms, carotid artery disease, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, and chronic venous insufficiency are among the common ailments that vascular surgeons in Whitefield at Aster Whitefield treat. Additionally, they participate in treating complications arising from these vascular conditions, providing both surgical and non-surgical interventions.