Two key features of the program include assisting referring physicians with the medical management of their patients with epilepsy and determining if brain surgery is an option after medical management or use of drugs has failed. Both require a battery of tests and evaluation by a team of epilepsy specialists, which the UCI program offers. We can help figure out whether spells or seizures really are epileptic or not. It's often difficult to tell without actually recording brain waves during the episode. Once the diagnosis is made, we can help optimize medical management of patients to improve control of seizures with medication.
Electrodes placed on the head can record brain waves around the clock.
Brain mapping also tells where motor and speech areas are so that they can be protected during surgery. Brain mapping techniques localize critical brain areas, such as motor and speech areas, so that they can be protected during surgery. If medical management fails, the program can conduct intensive evaluation on whether surgery is an option. This multi-step process requires a wide array of specialists to determine whether the patient is a candidate for surgery and to precisely locate the area of the brain for surgery, Dr. Kim said. Surgical therapy typically involves removing the area of the brain causing the seizures.