Epilepsy is a condition characterized by an abrupt, temporary change in brain function that often results in seizures. Duke’s skilled and experienced epilepsy team offers patients of all ages a variety of proven surgical and non-surgical treatment options.

While 50 to 60 percent of epilepsy patients may be successfully treated with medication, many still suffer from the effects of their disease. In these cases, evaluation by the comprehensive epilepsy center at Duke is critical.

Evaluation

Evaluation can occur in two phases. Phase I evaluation includes:

• Outpatient awake and sleep electroencephalograms (EEG)
• Complete medication review
• Inpatient video EEG monitoring
• The latest in imaging studies with special magnetic resonance (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging

If surgery is decided upon, a second phase of evaluation occurs. Phase II evaluation includes invasive monitoring to further pinpoint the location from which the seizures originate.

The evaluation may also include strip or depth electrode insertion or placement of a grid-array of electrodes that not only localize the site of the seizure onsets, but also map functional areas of the brain.

Our specialized evaluation rooms contain the most sophisticated central telemetry, audio/visual, and EEG equipment. Nurses with special training in neurological disorders staff the rooms.

Duke is one of only a few facilities in the region to administer the intracarotid amytal test (also called the Wada test), a neuroradiology study of language and memory disorders.

Surgical Options

If a patient is found to be a good candidate for surgical treatment, chances of becoming seizure-free can be as high as 85 percent, depending on where the seizure originates. In contrast, a patient who continues to have seizures even while taking anti-convulsant drugs has less than a 5 percent chance of becoming seizure-free without surgical intervention.

Our surgical approach to epilepsy has alleviated seizures for many patients, with few complications. We have the ability and skill necessary to map areas of the brain important for language, motor, or sensory attributes, as well as the specialized memory-storing areas of the brain, which helps our patients realize the most successful outcome possible.

Our surgical procedures include:

• Intracranial monitoring
• Anterior temporal lobectomies
• Cortical resections
• Hemisperectomies
• VNS placement

To provide the very best in epilepsy care, Duke is active in both basic and clinical research, and we participate in a variety of ongoing clinical drug trials.

Appointments

For a physician referral, or to schedule an appointment, call 1-888-ASK-DUKE.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Gallentine, William B.
  • Pediatrics / Neurology
• Grant, Gerald A.
  • Surgery / Neurosurgery
  • Pediatrics / Neurosurgery
• Haglund, Michael M.
  • Surgery / Neurosurgery
• Husain, Aatif M.
  • Medicine / Neurology
• Radtke, Rodney A.
  • Medicine / Neurology

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center
  2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710
• Duke Neurosciences/Spine
  Duke Clinic 1L, 200 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710
• Duke University Hospital
  2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710