Evolution of episodic memory in epileptic patients submitted to temporal lobectomy

Introduction: Episodic memory is vulnerable to temporal lobectomy. Our objective is to describe the changes that appear in this memory sub-system in patients submitted to temporal lobectomy, as a strategy to crisis control. Patients and methods: The simple is composed of 11 patients who were evaluated before performing the temporal lobectomy and a year after, using neuropsychologic tests. Results: We observed a diminishing in the mnesic rendering, in the ipsilateral modality to the hemisphere where the lobectomy is performed and an increase in the modality related with the contralateral hemisphere to that of the intervention. But nevertheless, these differences as to the rendering of the evaluative moments that neither manifest themselves in the same magnitude in all evaluated variables nor reach significant statistical value. Conclusions: The neuropsychologic profile of episodic memory associated to temporal lobectomy shows a diminishing in the rendering of ipsilateral modality to surgery, but an improvement in the contralateral modality an evolution that reinforces the supposing of a functional lateralization.