A functional hemispherectomy, also called “functional hemispherectomy.” is a medical surgery where one side of the brain is disconnected from the rest of the brain. It is done so that seizures that originate in that hemisphere have nowhere to go.
Candidates for this surgery are children who have severe epilepsy where their seizures are originating from only one side of their brain.
Hemispherectomy surgery is commonly done where seizures originate from the portion of the brain that is already functioning poorly because of prior accidents or injury, or was born with disorders that result in excessive brain damage. This procedure is being done so that the patient will no longer suffer from additional damage to their brain.