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To investigate the opinions of physicians about brain surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy worldwide.Practicing neurologists, psychiatrists, and neurosurgeons from around the world were invited to participate in an online survey. The survey anonymously collected data about demographics, years in clinical practice, discipline, nation, work setting, and answers to the questions about beliefs and attitudes about brain surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy.In total, 1410 physicians from 20 countries and different world regions participated. The propensity to discuss brain surgery with patients, who have drug-resistant seizures, was higher among men (versus women) [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.67, 95% CI 1.20-2.31; p = 0.002]. In comparison to neurologists, psychiatrists were less likely (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.17-0.47; p 0.001) and neurosurgeons were more likely (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.08-3.72; p = 0.028) to discuss about it. Survey participants working in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics showed a lower propensity to discuss epilepsy surgery with patients.This study showed that on an international level, there is still a knowledge gap concerning epilepsy surgery and much needs to be done to identify and overcome barriers to epilepsy surgery for patients with drug-resistant seizures worldwide.

To investigate the opinions and attitudes of neurologists on the counseling about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) worldwide.Practicing neurologists from around the world were invited to participate in an online survey. On February 18th, 2021, we emailed an invitation including a questionnaire (using Google-forms) to the lead neurologists from 50 countries. The survey anonymously collected the demographic data of the participants and answers to the questions about their opinions and attitudes toward counseling about SUDEP.In total, 1123 neurologists from 27 countries participated; 41.5% of the respondents reported they discuss the risk of SUDEP with patients and their care-givers only rarely. Specific subgroups of patients who should especially be told about this condition were considered to be those with poor antiseizure medication (ASM) adherence, frequent tonic-clonic seizures, or with drug-resistant epilepsy. The propensity to tell all patients with epilepsy (PWE) about SUDEP was higher among those with epilepsy fellowship. Having an epilepsy fellowship and working in an academic setting were factors associated with a comfortable discussion about SUDEP. There were significant differences between the world regions.Neurologists often do not discuss SUDEP with patients and their care-givers. While the results of this study may not be representative of practitioners in each country, it seems that there is a severe dissociation between the clinical significance of SUDEP and the amount of attention that is devoted to this matter in daily practice by many neurologists around the world.

Epilepsy affects 65 million patients worldwide, Furthermore, Impacts of epilepsy are experienced across many aspects of an individual’s life, including mental and physical wellness, cognitive abilities, instructional performance, occupational roles, and social networks, Cognitive function is critical to the quality of life of patients with epilepsy, so this study considered executive functions in epilepsy patients. Epilepsy syndromes are divided into focal and generalized types, which is dependent on whether seizures emerge from a localized brain area or display a widespread involvement of both hemispheres from the outset. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the executive functions (EFs) (planning, cognitive flexibility, and working memory) in adults with generalized epilepsy. Materials and methods: A total of 25 adults aged 18 to 44 years with generalized epilepsy were recruited from the Epilepsy outpatient clinic of the Department of Neurology, Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital in Cairo. A similar amount of age- and sex-matched healthy volunteer’s controls (numbered 32) were included as a control group. The participants completed subtests from the Arabic version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults (Fourth Edition) including Digit Span, Arithmetic, Letter-Number Sequencing, and Block Design, as well as the Stroop Color-Word Test as a neuropsychological test. Results: Compared to the Control group Adults with generalized epilepsy exhibited poor performance in EFs - planning, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Conclusion: Adults with generalized epilepsy had impairment in planning, cognitive flexibility, and working memory which may affect their Quality of life.