Evidence-based guidance for epilepsy surgery.
The American Epilepsy Society (AES) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) have released a joint, evidence-based clinical practice guideline on surgical treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy in adults and children, updating the 2003 practice parameter. Developed with the GRADE methodology by a multidisciplinary panel that included neurologists, neurosurgeons, a neuropsychologist, a neuroethicist, and a patient representative, the guideline looks beyond seizure control to weigh quality of life, mortality, adverse events, and cognitive outcomes such as verbal memory.
The 2026 AES/CNS epilepsy surgery guideline provides updated recommendations for the surgical treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. In this Clinical Corner video, Barbara Jobst, MD, Gregory K. Bergey, MD, and Jorge González-Martínez, MD, PhD, explain key recommendations and their implications for clinical practice.
Topics include resective surgery, laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), corpus callosotomy, and treatment of hypothalamic hamartomas. The discussion highlights cognitive risks, individualized treatment decisions, timely referral to comprehensive epilepsy centers, and gaps in the evidence supporting surgical care.
Clinical Resource
A visual, at-a-glance summary of the AES/CNS epilepsy surgery guideline, highlighting recommendations by epilepsy type, cognitive risk considerations, and the role of shared decision-making.
Systematic review summary
Key recommendations at a glance
Guideline commentary for clinicians
Read the press release
2026 ANNUAL MEETING SESSION
Epilepsy Surgery Clinical Practice Guideline
Sunday, December 6, 2026 | 2:00–3:30 PM MT
Join guideline leaders for an Epilepsy Exchange exploring the evidence behind surgical treatment, outcomes beyond seizure control, and practical applications in epilepsy care.
Education credits: 1.5 CME • 1.5 CNE • 1.5 CPE
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