A proposed modification of the Wada test for presurgical assessment in temporal lobe epilepsy.

We report experience with a modification of the Wada test used before temporal lobe resection in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Our procedure consists of injection of amytal via a microcatheter into the anterior choroidal artery or the P2 segment of the posterior cerebral artery and simultaneous presentation of verbal and figural memory test material before, during and after the injection. Pros and cons of the modification and inherent shortcomings of the amytal test are discussed on the basis of the results in ten patients.