Trends in Epilepsy Surgery in Italy Before and After COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights -

Research findings have shown that in Italy, epilepsy surgery volumes have regained their pre-pandemic levels, albeit with a slight loss of complexity, whereas seizure outcome has remained stable. The study, conducted by Federico Vigevano and colleagues from the Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (IRCCS), aimed to investigate the current practice of epilepsy surgery in Italy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on it. The survey collected data on preoperative and surgical practices from 26 centers with epilepsy surgery programs in Italy.

Key Takeaways:

  • A total of 21 out of 26 surveyed centers (80.7%) responded to the survey, with 11 centers (52.4%) having an established epilepsy surgery program.
  • The most frequent type of surgery was unilobar extratemporal lobectomy for children (38.7%).
  • Global surgery numbers between 2018 and 2022 were 618 in children and 621 in adults (total 1239).
  • The study found that starting in 2021, epilepsy surgery volumes have regained their pre-pandemic levels.
  • The complexity of surgeries has decreased slightly, but seizure outcome has remained stable.
  • The survey showed that presurgical evaluation protocols vary across centers, but follow international standards.
  • Only a few centers carry out minimally invasive surgeries.
  • Multilobar, disconnective, and hemispheric interventions are common in complex procedures.

Statistics:

  • A total of 1239 surgeries were performed between 2018 and 2022.
  • 80.7% of surveyed centers responded to the survey.
  • 52.4% of centers have an established epilepsy surgery program.
  • The most frequent type of surgery was unilobar extratemporal lobectomy for children.

Sources:

  • "Trends in epilepsy surgery in Italy before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide study." Epilepsia, 2025.
  • Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (IRCCS).
  • Federico Vigevano, Dept. of Paediatric Neurorehabilitation, Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.
  • Giuseppe Didato, Laura Tassi, Renzo Guerrini, Marco de Curtis, Luca De Palma, Giancarlo Di Gennaro, Lino Nobili, Matteo Martinoni, Stefano Meletti, Domenica Battaglia, Elisabetta Cesaroni, Roberta Vittorini, Laura Grisotto and Giuseppe d'.

These findings provide valuable insights into the current state of epilepsy surgery in Italy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this field.