In the past, an anatomic hemispherectomy COULD involve the removal of a large portion (if not all) of an affected hemisphere, but only if tests show the hemisphere to be already functioning so poorly that the procedure would not mean a loss of function. Presently, this procedure can involve removal of a PORTION the hemisphere, but once again a portion so affected by the epilepsy as to be basically useless anyway.
There have been some studies at centers such as Johns Hopkins concerning fully removing an affected hemisphere, but only in children who's epilepsy is severely reducing their quality of life.
ALL patients who have undergone this radical a procedure have partial paralysis on the side of the body opposite the removed portion.
A functional hemispherectomy is the disconnection of one side of the brain from the other. This is the "standard" hemispherectomy performed today.
Asgara
"Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever....but get over it"
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