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Trey's Pediatric HealthSource Story

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Childhood Absence Epilepsy Study

A Collaborative Effort Among 20 Top Pediatric Institutions

Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE) is a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital Medical Center and 19 other prestigious pediatric hospitals are working together to examine the most effective antiepileptic medications for treating this common pediatric epilepsy syndrome.

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Epilepsy Center

Nationwide Children's Hospital offers a multidisciplinary approach for the care of children with epilepsy through its Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Nationwide Children's goal is to partner with referring physicians to provide information gathered from extensive diagnostic, medical, cognitive and psychological evaluations so they can more effectively manage their patients long-term.

Services Available Include:

  • Diagnostic studies

  • Pharmacological evaluations

  • Investigative therapies

  • Surgical evaluations

Our staff is familiar with the multiple problems faced by children with epilepsy. We provide consultative services with:

  • Pediatric Neurosurgeons

  • Pediatric Epileptologist

  • Neuropsychologists

  • Clinical Nurse Specialists

Technological Advancements

Nationwide Children’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Program provides the latest in technological advancements for the diagnosis of epilepsy. The video telemetry unit incorporates continuous EEG monitoring with simultaneous digital video recordings to time-lock clinical events to the EEG. For children with intractable seizures, EEG recordings directly from the surface of the brain are available to map discrete lesions for possible surgical resection. Interictal SPECT is included in the surgical evaluation.

Diagnostic Studies Conducted

  • Routine digital/video EEG

  • Ambulatory EEG

  • Round-the-clock, long-term video EEG monitoring in a unit specifically designed for children

  • Evoked potentials

  • Specialized electrographic and radiology studies to localize language dominance

  • MRI with Spectroscopy and Diffusion Analysis

  • PET (Positron Emission Testing)

  • SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography)

Pharmacological Evaluations and Investigative Therapies Include:

  • Anti-epileptic drug evaluations and recommendations

  • Participation in drug trials of new or difficult to obtain anticonvulsant medications

  • Ketogenic diet

  • Surgical evaluations

  • Electrocorticography for intraoperative brain mapping and resection

  • Vagal nerve stimulation and programming

Epilepsy Surgery

Seizures in children are often controlled with medication, but some patients may benefit from surgical intervention. Learn more about surgical treatment for epilepsy patients.