Rare Brain Surgery Cures 21-Year-Old Epilepsy Patient After Years of Seizures

A 21-year-old man, who had been suffering from severe seizures due to epilepsy for the past decade, recently underwent a rare and advanced brain surgery. The patient had been experiencing sudden epilepsy seizures since childhood, causing significant mental and physical distress. A precise and advanced surgical procedure performed by Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, has given him a renewed chance to live a normal life.

Tushar Singh, a salon professional, had been enduring weekly seizures due to his neurological condition for nearly ten years. For almost a decade, doctors were unable to pinpoint the exact cause of Tushar’s epilepsy. Standard brain scans such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) showed no abnormalities, making surgery impossible. However, Stereo-Electroencephalography (SEEG), a minimally invasive neurosurgical procedure used to record electrical activity directly from the brain, successfully identified the cause of his uncontrollable seizures. SEEG is primarily used to diagnose and map epileptic seizure origins in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. ^[1]

Stereo-Electroencephalography (SEEG) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to pinpoint deep regions within the brain where difficult-to-treat epileptic seizures originate. During the procedure, neurosurgeons place fine electrodes into deeper and more extensive areas of the brain than a regular electroencephalogram (EEG) can reach, through tiny holes in the skull. These electrodes monitor brain activity in real-time, helping doctors locate the precise spot triggering the seizures. Additionally, SEEG is often used to determine if adults and children older than two with drug-resistant (refractory) epilepsy are eligible for surgery. ^[1]

Epilepsy — also known as a seizure disorder — is a neurological condition that causes recurring seizures due to abnormal brain activity. Approximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally. ^[2] In many cases, medication alone is insufficient to manage the condition. In India, only a few epilepsy surgeries are performed due to a lack of specialists and awareness. Moreover, the SEEG technique is only available in a few specialized epilepsy centers across the country.

Once doctors at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, identified the affected brain region, they performed a minimally invasive surgery to remove it. Seven months later, Tushar has not experienced a single seizure, offering him a fresh start in life.

References:

1. “Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG).” Cleveland Clinic. Accessed on March 27, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17457-seeg-test.

2. World Health Organization. 2024. “Epilepsy.” World Health Organization. 2024. Accessed on March 27, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy.

‌‌(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Jithin Paul/MSM)