Pediatric Epilepsy Program

The Pediatric Epilepsy Program will help you and your child understand why their seizures have developed and then design a personalized treatment plan that best controls these seizures with the fewest possible side effects.

Epilepsy treatment options include anti-seizure medications (current and investigational), ketogenic diet and related diets, or surgery, including:

Responsive Neurostimulator (RNS)

An RNS device is placed in the skull with wires placed directly in the brain to target specific areas. The device learns the patient’s typical brain electrical signals and learns to detect unusual activity that indicates when a seizure is happening. The device is then set to react to seizures and respond to them using electrical stimulation.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

VNS is a neuromodulation device that is used to stimulate the vagus nerve to help stop seizures. The device consists of one lead that is wrapped around the vagus nerve in the neck, a battery pack is placed under the skin on the left side of the chest, and a magnet which can be used to swipe the device to aid in seizure treatment.

Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT)

LITT is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses a laser probe placed in a specific part of the brain. Once placed, the laser is turned on and destroys a small area of brain tissue where the team feels the seizure is coming from. The hope is that once this area is destroyed it will no longer have seizures originating from this area of the brain.

Stereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG)

SEEG is a diagnostic surgical procedure used to locate where in the brain seizures are coming from. Multiple electrodes are precisely placed in the brain using MRI brain mapping, and assistance from the Rosa robot. Once all the electrodes have been placed, the patient’s brain activity is monitored in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) for anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

Resection/ Lesionectomy 

A resection/ lesionectomy removes structural lesions or specific tissue from the brain, such as certain tumors or congenital malformations, which can cause chronic seizures.

At your child’s first appointment, they will undergo a complete work-up, including a physical exam, patient history and EEG (a brain wave test that helps diagnose seizure disorders). You will also meet with a social worker who will educate you about seizures and address some of the non-medical issues, such as helping ensure your child's school is supportive.

We may also evaluate your child for school problems to determine whether seizures may be the cause. After the initial evaluation, a pediatric neurologist will meet with you and your child to discuss the best treatment options to reduce or eliminate her seizures.

If needed, your child may be placed in our epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) where advanced video EEG technologies are used to aid in diagnosis and treatment of the most complex seizure disorders. Through the recording of brain wave activity, we can determine if a seizure episode originates from the brain as well as identify the specific areas of the brain involved.

• Ohio BMV -- Medical forms

The Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance (PESA) offers these resources for patients and families.

• IEP process after epilepsy surgery
• The (almost) everything resource list
• School and learning hub
• Transitioning to adulthood
• Managing the toll of caregiving
• Webinar library