CPNI Bulletin, Spring 2011 - Epilepsy Edition

Message from Brian T. Andrews, M.D., FACS

We are proud to offer epilepsy patients with uncontrollable seizures the expert services of our integrated and forward-thinking epilepsy team. Members of the CPNI epilepsy team are highly respected in the epilepsy treatment community for their clinical successes, involvement in seizure research and new drug treatments, leadership in teaching other practitioners, and commitment to patient outreach and education efforts, including the creation of the PEP jobs program for patients whose seizures have responded successfully to treatment and are now ready to seek employment.

Uncontrolled seizure disorders typically prevent patients from leading a "normal" and productive life. Frequently, these patients cannot attend school, drive a car, hold a job, or perform necessary or enjoyable daily activities. We begin with an assessment to determine whether the patient is on the correct medication. But when medications are used to control the seizures, patients can suffer from adverse side effects such as sedation and cognitive impairment.

The management of patients whose seizures do not respond well to standard medications begins with a proper diagnosis, which can require placement of monitoring electrodes and grids to identify the seizure focus. Once the focus is identified, the patient is tested for hemispheric dominance and memory locations to determine whether surgical removal of the focal area is a safe and promising treatment option. Our epilepsy team also provides access to new medications or treatments, such as electrically suppressing the area with cortical grids. An example of our pioneering efforts to improve outcomes for epilepsy patients was our participation in the clinical trial for NeuroPace, an implanted device that delivers electrical stimulation to control the seizure focus in the brain.

The mission of our epilepsy team is to deliver a high quality of life for our epilepsy patients, free from seizures and free from unsatisfactory side effects. The epilepsy team at CPNI should be congratulated for setting the bar high and making significant progress toward achieving that goal.

Sincerely,
Brian T. Andrews, M.D., FACS
Chairman, Department of Neurosciences

Contents

• Antiepileptic Medications - by David King-Stephens, M.D.
• Neuromodulation in Neurosurgery - by Peter B. Weber, M.D.
• Neuropsychological Evaluation and WADA Testing in Epilepsy - by William J. McMullen, Jr., Ph.D., ABCN, ABPP
• Epilepsy Research: Neuroimaging - by Kenneth Laxer, M.D.
• Neuroscience Institute Quick Reference Guide

California Pacific Medical Center
- Neuroscience Institute Epilepsy Program -
Diagnosis, Medical Management, Epilepsy Surgery, Neuropsychology
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