Pediatric Epilepsy and Seizure Treatment
Advanced Surgery for Pediatric Seizures and Epilepsy
When medications fail to control abnormal electrical activity in the brain called seizures, surgery may be an option for certain patients. Imaging studies, such as MRI, or electrical studies, such as electroencephalography (EEG), may show an abnormal part of the brain that can be safely removed with surgery.
In other cases, small wires called electrodes may be inserted into the brain under computer guidance using a robot; this technique, known as stereotactic EEG, can be used to identify the starting point of a seizure. If the starting point of the seizure cannot be removed surgically without injury to vital structures, the patient may be treated by a device called a responsive neurostimulator (RNS) or vagal nerve stimulator (VNS).
Additional surgical approaches include temporal lobectomy, corpus callosotomy and hemispherectomy. All of the above surgeries are available at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital though our comprehensive surgical epilepsy program.
A Multidisciplinary Approach
Weekly multidisciplinary conferences are held among pediatric neurosurgeons, pediatric neurologists (epileptologists), a neuropsychologist, neuro-radiologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and child life and nursing to tailor individual approaches to each patient. Nutritionists, therapists, pediatricians and endovascular neurosurgeons are also valued team members who participate in patient care. We are part of the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium (PERC).
Conditions We Treat
Our program provides care for a wide range of pediatric epilepsy conditions and seizures, including:
- Partial complex epilepsy
- Mesial temporal sclerosis
- Absence seizures
- Atonic or tonic (drop attacks)
- Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures)
- Myoclonic seizures
- Infantile spasms
- Hemimegalencephaly
- Perinatal stroke
- Sturge-Weber syndrome
- Rett syndrome
- Tuberous sclerosis
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Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
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Dravet syndrome
NAEC Level 4 Epilepsy Center
As a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital provides the more complex forms of intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring, as well as more extensive medical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial treatment. We offer a complete evaluation for epilepsy surgery, including intracranial electrodes and a broad range of surgical procedures for epilepsy.
MRI-Guided Laser Ablation
AA10506-01 Rev B - LITT Animation from WMCHealth on Vimeo.
Playing Sports With Epilepsy
When sports and neurological disorders are talked about together, most think about head injuries athletes suffer. But there’s another neurological disorder that may impact more athletes than once thought: epilepsy. NBC New York’s John Chandler reports – featuring Dr. Carrie Muh, Division Chief, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Surgical Director of Pediatric Epilepsy Program.
Contact Us
Phone: 914.775.5437
Fax: 914.650.5437
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Suite 3050 N
Hawthorne, NY 10532
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19 Baker Avenue
Medical Arts Pavilion
Suite 301
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
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100 Woods Road
Athletics Room 3409
Valhalla, NY 10595
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Phone: 914.493.5123
Our Providers
Muh, Carrie
Division Chief, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Surgical Director of Pediatric Epilepsy Program, Surgical Director of Pediatric Neuro-vascular Program, Surgical Co-Director of Craniofacial Program
Al-Mufti, Fawaz
Associate Chair of Neurology for Research
Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Radiology
Assoc. Director of the Neuroendovascular Surgery Fellowship
Neuroendovascular Surgery Attending and Medical Director of Neurocritical Care
Pisapia, Jared
Attending Pediatric Neurosurgeon, Surgical Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program, Surgical Director of Peripheral Nerve Surgery Program, Surgical Co-Director of Craniofacial Program
Santarelli, Justin
Endovascular and Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon
Director of Neurosurgical Quality