Epilepsy surgery in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) present significant treatment challenges due to frequent, drug-resistant seizures and comorbidities that impact quality of life. DEEs include both developmental encephalopathy from underlying pathology and epileptic encephalopathy where seizures exacerbate cognitive and behavioral impairments. Classification by syndrome and etiology is essential for therapy and prognosis, with common syndromes like infantile epileptic spasms syndrome and Dravet syndrome having specific first-line treatments. Etiologies are predominantly genetic, structural, or combined, with targeted therapies increasingly available. Surgery aims to improve seizure control but also may improve development, if the epileptic encephalopathy can be ameliorated. Timely intervention can reduce seizures and epileptiform discharges, maximizing developmental potential and allowing reduction in antiseizure medication. In cases requiring extensive resections, new deficits may be offset by developmental gains. Studies indicate that parents are generally willing to accept some deficits for significant seizure reduction.