Epilepsy Surgery

If your seizures continue despite medication, surgery may offer another way to manage your epilepsy. A specialized evaluation can determine whether surgery may help and which treatment fits your needs. 

At WMCHealth, your care brings together epilepsy specialists and neurosurgeons. Our team offers traditional surgery, minimally invasive treatments, and neurostimulation based on your needs. 

Your Epilepsy Surgery Evaluation 

Surgery may be considered if your seizures continue after trying two anti-seizure medications without enough improvement. Your evaluation helps your care team determine whether surgery may help. 

Starting Your Evaluation 

You will typically meet with both an epileptologist and an epilepsy surgeon. Together, they review your previous testing and treatment history. 

You may need additional brain imaging or long-term EEG monitoring. These tests help your specialists better understand where your seizures begin. 

Planning Your Treatment  

Your epilepsy and neurosurgery specialists review your test results together. Neuropsychology specialists also contribute when needed. 

They determine whether you need more testing and which treatments may best address your seizures. Your providers then explain their recommendations and discuss the choices with you. 

When SEEG (Stereo EEG) May Be Needed 

Sometimes, additional monitoring is needed to more precisely identify where your seizures begin. Your team may recommend stereo EEG, or SEEG, before selecting a treatment. 

During SEEG, electrodes placed inside your brain record seizure activity. You are typically monitored in the hospital for about one week. 

After the electrodes are removed, your specialists review the results together. This information helps them recommend the treatment that may best address your seizures. 

Epilepsy Surgery and Neurostimulation Options 

Where and how your seizures begin helps your specialists determine which treatments may help. WMCHealth offers several surgical and neurostimulation treatments for adults with epilepsy. 

• Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS): An implanted device stimulates your vagus nerve without requiring surgery on your brain. 
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS): An implanted device provides electrical stimulation within your brain for certain types of epilepsy. 
• Responsive neurostimulation (RNS): An implanted device provides stimulation in response to detected seizure activity. 
• Epilepsy resection or disconnection: Surgery removes an area of your brain involved in causing seizures. Temporal lobectomy is one example. 
• MRI-guided laser ablation: This minimally invasive procedure uses MRI guidance and laser energy to treat a targeted area of your brain. 

Your care team will explain which treatments may fit your needs and why. 

Recovery and Follow-up Care 

Your follow-up care continues with both your neurosurgery and epilepsy teams. Most patients do not need rehabilitation unless another concern affects their recovery. 

Depending on your treatment, follow-up may include: 

• Surgical recovery: Your neurosurgery team monitors your incision, recovery, and follow-up imaging. 
• Ongoing epilepsy care: Your epileptologist continues managing your seizures and anti-seizure medications. 
• Device programming: If you receive DBS or RNS, your epilepsy specialists manage and adjust the device over time. 

Why Choose WMCHealth for Epilepsy Surgery 

WMCHealth combines specialized epilepsy expertise with surgical technologies for patients whose seizures remain difficult to control. 

• Level 4 epilepsy care: Our NAEC-designated adult and pediatric programs provide the highest level of comprehensive epilepsy evaluation and treatment. 
• Full range of epilepsy surgery: Our capabilities include SEEG, subdural grid monitoring, epilepsy resection or disconnection, and minimally invasive MRI-guided laser ablation. 
• Three neurostimulation therapies: We offer VNS, RNS, and DBS, allowing specialists to consider different ways to reduce seizure activity. 
• Epilepsy research and clinical trials: Our specialists participate in research and clinical trials focused on advancing epilepsy care.