- What happens if EEGs show that my child is having seizure activity in the unaffected hemisphere? Does that disqualify my child from surgery?
- What if the seizure activity is beginning in the affected side, but quickly moves to the other side? Would that disqualify my child from surgery? • What are the qualifications for surgery? Hemiparesis? Failed Medications?
- What do you consider the optimal timing for surgery?
- What are the advantages to delaying surgery?
- What are the risks of delaying surgery?
- How long can we wait for surgery? What is the hospital schedule and how long will it take until surgery?
- Surgeon: How many Hemispherectomies have you done? Neurologist: How many Hemispherectomies have you been involved in?
- How many Hemispherectomies has this hospital done?
- What special training/experience do you have with Hemispherectomy surgery?
- May I have a tour of the ward where my child will be admitted and the In-Patient rehabilitation facility?
- Will my child be able to speak after surgery?
- If left-side, should you do a WADA test to ensure that her language center has moved to the right hemisphere?
- Is my child too young for a WADA Test? If it hasn’t moved yet, can we wait a few months on surgery in hopes more language will transfer? Would it do any good to wait?
- What type of Hemispherectomy approach do you propose? Hemispherotomy? Anatomic, Functional, or somewhere in between? What are the pros and cons of each? Returning Seizures? Hydrocephelus? Shunt?
- Explain Hemianopsia to me? Will my child have that after surgery? What does that mean to her vision?
- Can you tell me the difference in how you would approach a hemispherectomy for a child with this disease versus a child with Hemimegalencephaly (HME), Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Rasmussen’s Syndrome, Stroke, Other?
- How long would you expect that my child would stay in PICU if all goes well? Regular Room? In-patient Rehab?
- What will my child be like in the short-termsurgery? Memory Loss? Cognitive Loss? Personality Loss? How long will this last?
- Explain Hemiplegia? Will my child be hemiplegic after surgery? Will those muscles wake up, but be permanently weak? Does that include torso muscles, swallowing muscles, lips, tongue, etc? • Explain Hemiparesis? Is this permanent?
- Can I have information on the rehabilitation process after surgery?
- What are other possible complications of surgery?
