Cleveland Clinic's Pediatric Epilepsy Program, one of the leading in the world, has been recently expanded to accommodate an ever-increasing patient population. Each year, our team sees over 2,000 children with pediatric epilepsy in our outpatient clinics, and evaluates more than 300 children in our dedicated state-of-the-art Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. More than 80 children with severe conditions undergo epilepsy surgery annually; making the Cleveland Clinic's Surgical Epilepsy program, one of the foremost programs of its kind in the world.
Our multi-disciplinary pediatric epilepsy team includes five board-certified pediatric epileptologists, two epilepsy neurosurgeon, pediatric neuroradiologists, clinical neurophysiologists, pediatric neuropsychologists, and a dedicated team of pediatric nurses, nursing assistants and EEG technologists. Facilities include a self-contained, eight-bed Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit located in Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, and featuring state-of-the-art, all-digital, video-EEG equipment. The Pediatric Epilepsy Unit operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staffed by experienced nurses and EEG technologists specializing in pediatric epilepsy, the unit is overseen by our dedicated team of pediatric epileptologists.
Other special services for children with epilepsy include sophisticated neuroimaging with advanced high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), ictal single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT)
and positron emission tomography (PET)
, and magnetoencephalography (MEG). In addition novel seizure treatment with the use of investigational antiepileptic drugs and devices are available through numerous ongoing clinical trials.
Cleveland Clinic was one of the first medical centers in the country to perform intracranial brain mapping for pediatric epilepsy. Advancements of this technique using three-dimensional computer images of the brain help physicians determine the precise location of seizure activity in the brain. This technology, along with such procedures as vagus nerve stimulation, offers hope for our young patients struggling with pediatric epilepsy.
Treating Pediatric Epilepsy
One percent of children in the United States have some form of pediatric epilepsy. If your child is affected by this condition, you want the best medical and/or surgical care available. The Pediatric Section of our Epilepsy Center was established at Cleveland Clinic to meet the unique needs of children with epilepsy.
Only a few medical centers in the country provide the range of care for pediatric epilepsy that is available here. At the Cleveland Clinic, however, we believe that providing the best medical and surgical care for children goes beyond state-of-the-art equipment and latest techniques. It also means providing that care with compassion. We understand your concerns, and we are here to help.
Pediatric Epilepsy Section Staff
Section Head, Pediatric Epilepsy
Section Head, Pediatric Neurology
