Many cases of childhood epilepsy are well controlled and have a good outcome. However, some children have a more difficult time: the combination of seizures, the effects of medication, and behavioral or learning problems require a multidisciplinary effort where family needs are recognized as well. Whether seen on an outpatient basis or treated in the hospital, at the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, children receive expert medical attention with an emphasis on developmental needs.

Recognizing the special needs of our pediatric patients, children requiring hospitalization for monitoring, medication adjustment, or surgical management stay in a room with two beds so that parents can stay with them overnight. Video cameras in the rooms allow the child to be monitored at all times.

At the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, we offer state-of-the-art diagnostic testing for epilepsy. Special monitoring techniques, such as CT scan, MRI, functional MRI, PET scan, EEG, and video-EEG telemetry are used to help us localize the area of the brain in which the seizures are generated. Extensive "mapping" of the brain, by neurodiagnostic imaging, neuropsychological testing, and other means, is performed to ensure that the neurosurgical approach, if chosen, is a safe and desirable option.

The management of severe epilepsies of early childhood includes recognition of cases that would benefit from a neurosurgical approach. Neurosurgical intervention, even at an early age, can sometimes end frequent, uncontrollable seizures, and allow children to maximize their potential. At the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, we offer the most advanced neurosurgical treatments available for our young patients, including resective surgery, disconnection surgery, and hemispherectomy. State-of-the-art neurophysiologic monitoring is utilized to guide patient treatment and progress in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, as well as to provide high quality intraoperative surveillance during neurosurgery.