Your attending physicians are some of the most renowned specialists in the nation, and serve on the faculty of the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
At UCH you'll find:
- Four full-time epileptologists
- Two neurosurgeons with special expertise and considerable experience in epileptic surgery
- A team of neuropsychiatrists and neuropsychologists with a special interest in epilepsy
At UCH your caregivers are a large collaborative team of Magnet (meaning the best, most scientific and patient-centered) nurses and one of the largest group of specialists, sub-specialists and sub-sub specialists in the Rocky Mountain west.
Epilepsy can manifest itself in
characteristic patterns in the
electroencephalogram (EEG).
(Illustration: NIC)
Tests
A UCH specialist will assess your medical history and perform a comprehensive neurologic exam, and will ask for a detailed description of your seizure. You may need someone who has witnessed your seizures to describe to a doctor what occurred.
A doctor will test your reflexes and perform blood tests to rule out any other condition.
In addition, in order to reveal abnormalities of the brain and determine the best course of treatment, a specialist may perform brain scans, such as:
- electroencephalograms (EEGs)
- computerized tomography (CT)
- positron emission tomography (PET)
- magnetic encephalography (MEG)
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Treatments
Medications. Anti-seizure medications are usually taken by mouth and vary in the side effects they produce.
In VNS, electrical impulses are
directed into the brain through
the vagus nerve in the neck.
(Illustration: Cybertronics)
Ablative Surgery. Depending on the area of the brain where seizure originates, surgery may be an option. Some areas of the brain that produce seizures can be surgically removed. It is not a replacement for taking medication.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation. In Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), electrical impulses are directed into the brain through the vagus nerve in the neck. The impulses are sent by an electrode that is surgically implanted.
Ketogenic Diet. A diet that is high in fats and low in carbohydrates has been shown to eliminate seizures entirely in some children. It is not used in adults.