Our Level 4-certified epilepsy program offers a comprehensive approach to epilepsy and other seizure disorders. Our multidisciplinary team* of specialists includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists and epileptologists.
Each year in the United States, approximately 150,000 people seek medical attention after experiencing their first seizure. Forty to 50 percent of first-time seizures will develop into recurrent seizures; and those patients in time will receive a diagnosis of epilepsy. The annual cost of epilepsy in the United States was last estimated to be in excess of $12.5 billion.
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
St. Luke's Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) is a highly advanced hospital room designed to track seizure activity. Patients receive 24 hour EEG monitoring and results are reported to a multidisciplinary team to assess the origin of the seizure activity and determine appropriate medical and surgical therapy.
Causes
In a healthy individual, there is a balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters sending information to neurons in the brain. Each person has a threshold commonly referred to as the ‘seizure threshold’. Seizure activity results from the abnormal discharge of cerebral electrical impulses in the brain. A decrease in the seizure threshold or an increase in the excitatory neurotransmitter discharges will result in a seizure. There are many different cases of a seizure. Seizures generally last seconds to minutes long and subside without intervention. Some patients report an aura or a prodrome for minutes or hours prior to seizure activity. Common symptoms include emotional changes and a general feeling of malaise. Seizures are classified as idiopathic, cryptogenic or symptomatic.
Risk Factors
- Family history
- Severe imbalance of body electrolytes
- History of trauma, stroke or other neurologic problem
Treatment
Treatment generally begins with appropriate diagnosis and management with medications. Many medications are approved for managing seizures. However, if seizures still occur while taking medication, additional treatment options may be available. In extreme cases of seizure and epilepsy not controlled with medication, surgery may be helpful to stop seizure activity.
Neurophysiology Laboratory:
The Neurophysiology Lab is staffed by neurophysiologists & neurologists* certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with added qualifications in Clinical Neurophysiology and/or by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine.
Services include:
- Electroencephalograms (EEG): Short-Term EEG Video Monitoring
- Evoked Potentials (EP): Brainstem Auditory, Visual, & Somatosensory
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve Conduction Velocity Studies (NCV)
- Long-Term, portable EEG (LTM EEG) and continuous EEG (cEEG) in the ICUs
- Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM)
- EP and EMG modalities
- Transcranial Doppler Studies (TCD)
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU):
The EMU is designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) as a Level IV specialized epilepsy center. The unit provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for those with epilepsy, particularly the more complex forms of intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring. Extensive medical & surgical evaluation and treatment options for those with epilepsy are also provided.
*Most physicians are Independent Contractors.
