Cerebral venous sinus surgery for epilepsy 60 years ago
R. Satran
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY, USA.
The recent singular advances in the past 20 years in the medical and
surgical treatment for epilepsy stand in marked contrast to the limited
therapeutic methods available earlier in this century. George W. Swift, MD,
one of the earliest neurosurgeons in Seattle, Wash, interpreted the
anatomic and physiologic data of his time and concluded that impaired
cerebral venous blood flow was responsible for recurrent seizures.
Accordingly, he advocated and practiced decompression of the transverse
sinuses. Although his operation was not practiced by his peers, a review of
this procedure provides a past perspective of earlier advances and
therapies for epilepsy.