Epilepsy is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Epilepsy is associated with lower employment rate¹ as well as social stigmas, low quality of life and a significant economic impact ^2. Epilepsy surgery remains the standard treatment for drug resistant (DR) temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Several studies have demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of epilepsy surgery.

One-hundred and five patients were included. Amygdalohippocampectomy and temporal lobectomy were performed in the majority of patients 69.5% (73). Mean age at epilepsy surgery was 34.3 ± 10.4 years. Mean time of epilepsy duration was 12.1 ± 8.6 years. Number of AEDs and seizures per month decreased before and after epilepsy surgery (2.52 ± 0.82 vs 1.70 ± 1.07; p<0.0001, and 10.50 ± 9.34 vs 1.26 ± 2.62; p<0.0001, respectively).  An increase in employment rate was observed before and after epilepsy surgery 91 (86.7%) vs 96 (91.4%); p<0.0001). Also a statistically significant difference was observed in the monthly income before and after surgery: Low income 89 (84.8%) vs 88 (83.8%) and middle-low income 11 (10.5%) vs 13 (12.4%), respectively; p<0.0001).