Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
The Epilepsy Program at the Clinical Neuroscience Center is committed to delivering world-class care for patients with epilepsy by providing excellent clinical management and the use of state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and approaches. Our staff conducts clinical and translational research to improve the knowledge and treatment of epilepsy.
Our team of physicians and medical professionals provide a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and management of seizure disorders and epilepsy. Our epilepsy team includes three board-certified epileptologists, an epilepsy neurosurgeon, neuroradiologists, and a dedicated team of nurses and EEG technicians. Facilities include the outpatient clinic at the Clinical Neuroscience Center, the Neurology Clinic and Magnetic Source Imaging Unit at the Imaging and Neurosciences Center and the EEG Unit in University Hospital, featuring state-of-the-art, all-digital, video-EEG equipment.
Other special services for patients with adult epilepsy include sophisticated neuroimaging with advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Seizure treatment with investigational antiepileptic drugs is available through numerous clinical trials. University Health Care is one of the few medical centers in the region capable of performing brain mapping in patients with epilepsy. The seizure treatment technique, which uses 3-D computer images of the brain, helps physicians determine the precise location of seizure activity in the adult brain in relation to functional areas of the brain.
The Epilepsy Program was established at the Clinical Neuroscience Center to meet the unique needs of patients with epilepsy. Only a few medical centers in the United States provide the range of care for epilepsy that is available here. At University Health Care, however, we also believe that providing the best medical and surgical care goes beyond state-of-the-art equipment and the latest techniques. It also means providing World Class Care with compassion. We understand your concerns, and we are here to help.
Epilepsy Treatment Options
A number of epilepsy treatment options exist for the control and prevention of further seizures. The nature and severity of a particular epilepsy type would determine which treatment would be most suitable or whether a change in treatment plan to a different type is needed. There are three main categories of epilepsy treatment options:
- Medications
- Surgery
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Medications
For the treatment of seizures, the FDA currently approves several different types of antiepileptic drugs. At the Clinical Neurosciences Center, we individualize the epilepsy treatment plan for the patient based on the type of seizure experienced. Our goal is to achieve the best possible seizure control without adverse side effects from the medication. For most patients, it is possible to stop the seizures altogether with standard medications.
Patients who do not respond to traditional antiepileptic drugs may be considered for surgical epilepsy treatment, entered into clinical trials of approved or investigational medications, or be evaluated for other novel experimental treatments. The Epilepsy Program’s active role in research ensures that our patients receive the latest medication for epilepsy.
Epilepsy Surgery
Once considered a last resort for epilepsy treatment, surgery has become a very safe and effective method of treatment for certain patients in whom the medications prove to be ineffective. University Health Care’s neurosurgeons are leaders in the application of surgical options for patients with various types of focal epilepsy.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
As part of its commitment to the offering of all available treatment modalities to all of our patients, the Epilepsy Program offers vagus nerve stimulation as one of the epilepsy treatment options in those patients who failed multiple anti-epileptic medications and who are not candidates for surgical resection.
Diagnosis and Testing
The diagnosis of epilepsy requires a detailed description of any past seizures.Not only is the information from the patient important, but details of the history from a reliable person who has witnessed the seizures can also be invaluable in the diagnosis of epilepsy. For this reason, it is often very helpful to bring a person who has observed (witnessed) the seizures to the visit with the physician while trying to diagnose and test for epilepsy.
Details of the past history of seizures, or history of potential epilepsy risk factors (such as a history of seizures associated with fever during childhood, head trauma, brain infections, family history of seizures, birth injuries or birth defects, impairment of attaining normal development of language motor or social skill during childhood) is often sought during the history taking.
- Physical & Neurological Exam
- Laboratory Testing
- EEG (Electroencephalogram)
- Video EEG Monitoring (Non Invasive)
- Video EEG Monitoring (Invasive)
- MEG (Magnetoencephalogram)
- MSI (Magnetic Source Imaging)
- Neuroradiology
- Neuropsychological Testing
- Wada Testing
