Advancing Surgical Management of Epilepsy

Many patients with epilepsy can manage their seizures with medications and lifestyle changes. But for nearly one-third of patients with severe epilepsy, other treatment plans, including surgery, may be necessary.

In this podcast, Stephen Schuele, MD, MPH, chief of Epilepsy and Neurophysiology and professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the latest advancements in epilepsy diagnosis and surgical treatment. He talks about indications for epilepsy surgery and pre-surgical evaluation, including the 5-SENSE score, which can predict the outcome of more invasive explorations with stereotactic depth electrodes (SEEG), according to a study published in JAMA Neurology that he co-authored. Dr. Schuele also discusses exciting clinical trials currently underway and innovative treatment options offered at the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, including neuromodulation and laser ablation.