Objectives

This paper aims to summarise the existing knowledge regarding the available non-pharmacological methods of epilepsy treatment. The accurate diagnosis of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy is vital for opti mising further treatment.

Literature review

In case of failure to achieve perma nent seizure control with two appropriately selected and applied antiepileptic pharmacological regimens, it is rec ommended to consider surgical treatment. The possibility of removing the epileptic focus without causing func tional deficits is evaluated (resection surgery). If the resection operation is not possible, alternative methods of treatment are palliative surgery (disconnection pro cedures) and neurostimulation systems. Some patients may also benefit from a ketogenic diet.

Conclusions

While a satisfactory therapeutic effect with only one of the aforementioned methods is difficult to achieve, the combined therapy is to be taken into con sideration.