Responsible: Rosa María Manero Borrás
The neuropsychological assessment has as main objective to evaluate the existence of alterations of the cerebral function, to determine if these functional alterations indicate a location in the brain and to determine whether the alterations are limited to the regions morphologically damaged, or involve other regions. It also estimates the cognitive risk of an epilepsy surgery, as well as the potential negative effects of antiepileptic drugs on cognition. For this, several neuropsychological tests are used to evaluate the cognitive functions of the patient (language, memory, visuospatial function, among others). This comprehensive study is performed in one or two sessions before the surgical procedure and in a regulated form after the intervention.
Wada test
The objective of the Wada test is the cerebral lateralization of the speech and memory functions to evaluate the possibility of performing epilepsy surgery. Carotid angiography and selective administration of sodium amobarbital are necessary for this procedure. Carotid angiography is an invasive procedure that carries some risk and requires informed consent. The procedure involves injecting contrast into the arteries through a catheter. Exploration itself is not a treatment, but a diagnostic procedure. At present, the risks are minimal.
