Epilepsy and Brain Mapping Program

Huntington Hospital is an international destination for the treatment of epilepsy. Approximately 83 percent of patients who undergo epilepsy surgery at Huntington Hospital become seizure-free, with 97 percent becoming markedly improved. The EBMP is certified a National Association of Epilepsy Center, Level IV center.

The Huntington Epilepsy and Brain Mapping Program is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including world-renowned board-certified neurosurgeons, board-certified neuropsychologists, registered nurses with epilepsy specialization, and a registered dietitian specializing in the ketogenic diet.

Diagnostic Screening Services
The Epilepsy and Brain Mapping Program provides extensive screening and diagnostic services, including:

• High resolution video-EEG/24-hour recordings that monitor patient's seizures and behaviors while capturing abnormal brain waves
• Magnetoelectroencephalogram (MEG), non-invasive recording technology pioneered at Huntington Hospital that can isolate neuronal activity in the brain which is vital in pinpointing seizure location
• MRI dipole brain mapping that combines long-term monitoring EEG data, videography and high-resolution MRI to provide unmatched brain imaging
• Ictal single photon emission computerized tomography or ictal SPECT scan using increased cerebral blood flow to localize the epileptic region of the brain
• Position emission tomography (PET) scan that locates microscopic scar‑producing seizures

Treatment Services
Huntington Hosptial offers the latest generation anti-epileptic medications, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and the ketogenic diet. However, approximately one-third of epilepsy patients are resistant to anti-epileptic medications and continue to have intractable seizures. For these patients, Huntington Hospital has a specialized neurosurgical program consisting of three phases.

Phase I
Electrodes are placed on the patient's scalp and seizure activity is monitored via EEG and videotape. The patient's seizures are recorded under close medical supervision by expertly trained nurses.

Phase II
Depth electrodes are intra-cranially placed to record and localize seizures at a deeper level. This "gold standard" for locating seizures in complex cases usually involves a longer hospital stay.

Phase III
Neurosurgeons remove small portions of damaged brain identified as seizure triggers, without affecting the normal brain. Based on the findings of Phase I and II, physicians determine which of several possible procedures will be most successful.

For more information, please call (800) 903-9233