Pediatric Epilepsy Program

Pediatric Epilepsy and Seizure Treatment
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Pediatric Epilepsy and Seizure Treatment

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).

Advanced Surgery for Pediatric Seizures and Epilepsy

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, and neuro-radiologists 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: