Epilepsy Surgery

Wang AmbulatoryCare Center, Suite 331
Phone: 617-724-6590 | Fax: 617-726-7546

After headache, epilepsy is the most common neurologic problem in children. MassGeneral Hospital for Children offers a full range of medical management and all of the established and new anti-epileptic drugs. Most pediatric seizure disorders are well managed with appropriate medical therapy. Where medical management fails, a child should be evaluated carefully for surgical intervention.

All forms of surgical epilepsy treatment are offered including:

• Cortical resections
• Lobectomies
• Functional hemispherectomies
• Callosotomies
• Multiple subpial transactions
• Vagus nerve stimulation
• Placement of subdural grids and depth electrodes

At MassGeneral Hospital for Children, the recommendation to consider surgery is initially made by the epilepsy surgery team, a comprehensive multi-disciplinary group composed of:

• Pediatric epileptologists
• Neurologists
• Neurosurgeons
• Neuropsychologists
• Psychologists
• Nurses
• Neuro-clinical social workers
• EEG technologists
• Occupational therapists

Comprehensive Evaluation

The evaluation includes a hospital stay for EEG monitoring, with 24-hour continuous video monitoring. To aid in the surgical evaluation, some of the most advanced imaging capabilities in the world are being utilized. In addition to standard CT and MRI, offerings include PET (positron emission tomography) scanning for looking at the body’s biochemical functions, functional MRI for providing 3D structural and functional brain imaging, MR spectroscopy for viewing the neurochemistry of the brain and special, high-resolution MRI scanning provide detailed anatomical views.

The evaluation is conducted on the pediatric unit with special pediatric support systems in place, including a dedicated epilepsy nurse specialist who provides ongoing support for the child and family throughout the child’s treatment plan.