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What Is Laser Ablation Surgery?
Best Candidates for Laser Ablation Surgery
Before opting for surgery, your doctor will review your medical history and conduct image testing to learn more about your epilepsy. Most patients will not be considered for surgery until they try anti-seizure medications. The patients who benefit most from laser ablation will have:
Benefits & Risks of Laser Ablation Surgery
The benefits of laser ablation surgery include:
- a less invasive and safer procedure than an open brain craniotomy (temporarily removing a piece of the skull to access the brain for surgery),
- a lower chance of damaging healthy tissues during surgery,
- shorter surgery time,
- smaller incisions and holes in the bone to insert the laser,
- no need to shave the surgical site (patients keep their hair),
- less scarring and pain after the procedure,
- an ability to treat areas deep in the brain that a surgeon cannot reach,
- shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery, and
- fewer complications than traditional craniotomies.
However, laser ablation does have some risks. While they are rare, some reported complications include:
- narrowing vision,
- bleeding in the brain,
- nerve damage, and
- infection, which is a risk with any surgery.
Talk to your doctor about the risks for you or your child before deciding which surgery is best.
How Laser Ablation Works
Laser ablation uses lasers to surgically remove the part of your brain that causes seizures. Patients who get laser ablation surgery for epilepsy will still be under general anesthesia (put to sleep) during the procedure. Your surgeon will make a small incision (cut) in the skull (about the size of a pencil) to place a guided laser probe into the brain. Your surgical team will use MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to map out the exact spot they want to go. This method of using lasers and MRI mapping targets a seizure location with pinpoint accuracy.
Once they find the spot, the neurosurgeon will use lasers to target the spot in the brain where seizures occur. The laser will convert to thermal energy (heat) inside your brain and destroy the specific brain cells that cause seizures.
During the procedure, your team will monitor the temperature in nearby areas of your brain with a computer. Your spinal fluid keeps those areas cool to prevent damage to healthy brain tissue outside of the seizure location. Once the surgery is complete, your surgeon will close the small hole he or she made in the bone and the skin with a single stitch. You will spend only one to two nights in the hospital to recover after surgery.
Length of Surgery
A patient will typically be under anesthesia for four to five hours during laser ablation surgery. However, most of this time is spent on MRI scans and planning to verify the exact location and prepare for the procedure. The actual laser portion takes around one hour.
Laser Ablation: Epilepsy Success Rate
In many patients, this surgery will successfully stop their seizures; however, you may need more than one surgery. Some people still have seizures after brain surgery or seizures that come back later. Continue to see your neurologist and epilepsy care team after surgery to ensure the best recovery and outcome.
Laser Ablation Surgery Recovery
It takes about two weeks to recover fully and resume normal activity at home after leaving the hospital. However, some people may require more recovery time and your surgical team will give you a recovery plan that takes your health and medical history into account.
Make an Appointment with Our Neurologists
You will need a referral from your primary care physician or another provider to be seen in our Epilepsy Clinic. Call 801-585-7575 to schedule an initial appointment after you are referred. Our team will help coordinate your care to see an epileptologist (a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy) for evaluation and schedule any necessary testing for an accurate diagnosis.
If you are a candidate for surgery, our surgical coordinators will help you schedule any necessary testing and diagnostic procedures in advance. We will also schedule an appointment for you to meet with the neurosurgeon.
Most epilepsy tests and treatment are covered by insurance. We will work with your insurance carrier to determine what is covered under your plan and obtain pre-authorization, as needed, before your treatment. If you have questions about what is covered under your insurance plan, contact your insurance carrier directly.