Surgery for Focal Epilepsy—Why and When?
OVERVIEW Print Section Listen Epilepsy surgery, by definition is the removal of an area of brain with the aim of alleviating seizures. In order to proceed, evaluation needs to be…
Treating Epilepsy in the Presence of Sleep Disorders
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Sleep disorders have an adverse impact on daily living for both children and their caregivers.1 Sleep disturbance and lack of restful sleep can masquerade as a…
Comorbidities of Surgical Treatment
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Epilepsy surgery is an extremely effective therapeutic option for many children with drug-resistant epilepsy. In medically resistant children, the likelihood that further antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) will…
Ketogenic Diets
OVERVIEW: WHAT IS THE KETOGENIC DIET? Print Section Listen The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that is carefully calculated by a dietitian and menus created for a…
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen There is widespread consensus that recurrent epileptic seizures need treatment and the first line of treatment invariably involves use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). However, experience from…
Teratogenicity of Antiepileptic Drugs
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen In most women with epilepsy, it is necessary to continue antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment during pregnancy to reduce the risks caused by epileptic seizures for both…
Clinical Trials Versus Anecdotal Reports
OVERVIEW Print Section Listen The choice of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) entails a number of considerations detailed later. All these considerations cannot be fully or adequately addressed by controlled studies alone,…
Medical and Surgical Treatment of Pediatric Epilepsy
OVERVIEW Print Section Listen Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are a treatment modality for the suppression of seizures. Medical therapy is usually the first option once it is established that seizures should…
A Practical Guide to AED Pharmacology
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Almost half of the patients who initially present with epilepsy will become seizure free on their first antiepileptic drug (AED). The prognosis for the remaining half…
Nursing Considerations in Epilepsy Treatment
OVERVIEW Print Section Listen Epilepsy is often perceived as a frightening and stigmatizing disorder and its impact can be enormous. Some children outgrow their seizures, others achieve good seizure control,…
