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What is Pediatric Epilepsy?
What is Epilepsy and How Does it Affect Children?
Epilepsy in children is a medical condition marked by recurrent seizures (an event of altered brain function caused by abnormal or irregular electrical discharges from brain cells).
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting 3.4 million people in the United States and approximately 470, 000 children ages 18 and younger. Many children with epilepsy may outgrow their condition as they age, while others may require ongoing treatment if their epilepsy is chronic.
Diagnosis
Patients with seizures are evaluated to determine the type (epileptic vs. non-epileptic) and their cause, to determine the most effective treatment.
An epilepsy diagnosis is based on a detailed description of the episodes, as well as your child’s medical history family history, associated medical conditions and current medications. The doctor will also look for clues from physical and neurological examination. The physician may ask the following questions:
- At what age did seizures begin?
- What circumstances surrounded the first seizure?
- What factors seem to bring on seizures?
- What is felt before, during and after seizures?
- How long do seizures last?
- Has your child received any treatments for epilepsy?
- If so, which medications have been prescribed and in what dosages?
- Was treatment effective?
- Eyewitness accounts from family or friends who can describe the seizures
- Home videos of seizures if available
Testing for Epilepsy
What are the Different Types of Testing Used to Diagnose Epilepsy?
The most common diagnostic tests include:
Electroencephalogram (EEG)– The EEG test, which typically lasts about 90 minutes, provides critical information about the type and location of your child’s epilepsy. This recording of the brain waves is done by first attaching small disc electrodes to measured locations on the head. These electrodes are then connected to a recording device called an electroencephalograph.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)– This advanced imaging technique, which takes about 15 minutes to an hour to perform, allows your child’s doctor to uncover the possible cause of their epilepsy. MRI uses magnetic and radio waves to generate a detailed view of the brain.
Blood tests– These studies give our physicians a measure of the various compounds and cells normally present in a patient’s blood – a useful baseline for later comparisons. After your child begins treatment with some anti-seizure medications, he or she may need periodic blood studies to provide the healthcare team with an understanding of how their body processes and reacts to these drugs.
Other tests– Depending on your child’s condition, epileptologists may recommend additional, more specialized tests or consultations with other clinicians such as a neurosurgeon, neuropsychologist, eye doctor or genetic expert.
In those cases where medical treatment fails, other tests may be considered, including:
- Ictal single photon emission computed tomography (Ictal SPECT) – A test that measures blood flow in the brain and how this flow changes with seizure activity.
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) – An advanced method of recording and evaluating the brain white it is actively functioning, pinpointing abnormal changes in the brain.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan – A procedure that shows changes in brain metabolism associated with seizures.
- Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) – A minimally invasive surgical procedure that places electrodes in targeted brain areas, which are then monitored to precisely locate the source of the seizure. SEEG covers more area than a conventional EEG.
Treatments
How is epilepsy treated?
The goal of treatment is to fully control your child’s seizures, restore their quality of life and eliminate the risk of premature death. In most cases, success is achieved through an accurate diagnosis and choice of the right type and dosage of anti-seizure medication(s). Epilepsy surgery may be considered if anti-seizure medications fail to fully control seizures.
Medical Treatment
The most important advice to patients regarding anti-seizure medications is to take your medications exactly as directed and to never suddenly change medications or stop taking them without consulting your physician.
The type of anti-seizure medications that your child are given will depend on the type of epilepsy they have, and the dose prescribed will vary with age, weight, gender and other factors.
The goal of treatment is to control the seizures with no side effects from medication. Fortunately, most side effects, such as sleepiness or an unsteady walk, are mild and will soon pass. If serious side effects or other unexpected reaction occur, call your child’s physician immediately. If a medication is causing side effects, then a change in the treatment plan will be explored.
It may take a few attempts before the best medication, combination of medications or dosage is determined. During this adjustment period, frequent blood samples may be taken to monitor blood medication levels. Even after the optimal treatment is found, factors in your child’s life may change, requiring later adjustments to achieve full seizure control.
Surgical Treatment
For pediatric patients whose seizures are unresponsive to anti-seizure medications or who have side effects with medication should be evaluated for possible surgical treatment.
To be considered for surgery, extensive neurological testing may show that the source of the your child’s seizures is in a well-localized area of the brain that can be surgically removed without causing damage to essential functions such as movement, sensation, vision, speech or memory. Seizure-free rates after surgery can range from 30 to 80 percent, depending on factors such as the patient’s age and epilepsy location and cause.
The principles of epilepsy surgery evaluation in infants, children, adolescents and adults are similar, for the most part. In children, however, age-related factors such as limited cooperation and maturing brain changes (which can complicate interpretation of EEGs and MRIs) pose additional challenges. On the other hand, pediatric patients are often best suited for epilepsy surgery, given that their still-developing brains can better adjust after tailored surgical removal of the epileptic region.
Other less invasive ways to surgically control seizures include:
- Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT)
- Implantation of smart devices to detect and respond to seizures, typically referred to as responsive neurostimulation (RNS)
- Stimulation of selected deep areas of the brain through deep brain stimulation (DBS)
Who is a Candidate for Surgery?
When is Epilepsy Surgery Considered and who is a Candidate?
One-third of children with epilepsy have difficult-to-control seizures that negatively impact quality of life for both them and their family. Your child may be a candidate for pediatric epilepsy surgery if he or she fails to respond to trials of two appropriate anti-seizure medications in adequate doses. While many factors must be considered in developing a child’s epilepsy management plan, surgical options are often effective in providing relief from epileptic seizures and, consequently, the impact on the child’s cognitive and motor development
How are Patients Evaluated for Surgery?
At Cleveland Clinic, epilepsy surgery evaluation usually begins with an office consultation with one of our board-certified pediatric epileptologists. Our physicians conduct a detailed history and physical examination and review the results of any tests that were performed by your child’s local physicians. We gather information on all significant factors that may affect our selection of the most appropriate treatment approach for your child.
Working closely with your family, we develop a pre-surgical plan that may include:
- Hospital admission to our Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, or PEMU, staffed 24/7 and equipped with leading-edge monitoring equipment. During your child’s PEMU stay, we review video-EEG in real time, conduct any additional testing needed, coordinate brain scans — under sedation if needed — and obtain consultation(s) from other Cleveland Clinic specialist(s). For families visiting from long distances, we coordinate a testing and treatment plan in advance whenever possible.
- Customized care for children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), both of which can cause intractable epilepsy. Our multispecialty clinics for these conditions unite dedicated specialists from various disciplines to manage the complex needs of such children and consider the impact of epilepsy surgery on other organs and systems.
- Access to specialists in the fields of child psychiatry, neuropsychology and social work, who help families cope with the behavioral, developmental, social and academic challenges that often accompany pediatric epilepsy.
- Connection to support services that link visiting families with parents of children who have undergone pediatric epilepsy surgery. The Pediatric Epilepsy Support Group offers families an opportunity to share their thoughts, emotions and experiences, pre- and post-surgery. These families return to Cleveland every other year for a support group reunion.
A Comprehensive Approach to Epilepsy Surgery
Cleveland Clinic’s unique model of epilepsy care combines unparalleled staff expertise with leading edge technology and interdisciplinary collaboration. Our team of pediatric epileptologists, epilepsy neurosurgeons, pediatric neuropsychologists, pediatric psychiatrists and pediatric social workers has some of the best outcomes in the nation — even in the most challenging cases. As a result, physicians and families from around the world seek our consultation for treatment of children who are in need of epilepsy surgery.
Our newly remodeled inpatient Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (PEMU) is conveniently located in Cleveland Clinic Children’s, with 24/7 access to intensive care services.
Testing for Surgery
What Tests are Needed to Help Decide if Surgery is Right for my Child?
A pediatric epilepsy surgery evaluation includes appropriate imaging tests to uncover brain abnormalities and map seizure foci (the area of the brain where seizures originate). Imaging technologies are coordinated and interpreted by top imaging experts for pediatric patients during a single PEMU admission period, if needed. The complex data from these tests help parents understand the best treatment options for their child.
Advanced imaging technologies that are often used at Cleveland Clinic include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - Brain abnormalities can be subtle, requiring special MRI protocols, high-resolution techniques and qualified experts to interpret these studies. Our brain MRI facility is dedicated to children, with support from pediatric anesthesia specialists for younger or more apprehensive children, when needed. Our equipment also includes a high-strength 3-Tesla magnet to provide leading-edge imaging in complex cases.
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) - In 2008, Cleveland Clinic added MEG technology to the Epilepsy Center. An integrated group of physicians, physicists, neurophysiologists, biomedical engineers and computer scientists use leading-edge protocols to map seizure focus while the child sleeps in a scanner, with a parent at the bedside, if necessary. MEG measures abnormal brain activity, often with better localization accuracy than EEG. With no injections, radioactivity or strong magnetic fields, MEG is safe for both children and adults and is entirely non-invasive and painless. The MEG lab performs more than 150 scans per year, one of the highest clinical volumes in the world. Our Epilepsy Center MEG specialists are specially trained to work with children and infants of all ages.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) - Our high-resolution PET scanner also helps uncover epilepsy foci in the brain. PET scans are particularly helpful in children whose brain MRI failed to show a clear lesion. PET images are used together with brain MRI and other imaging modalities to accurately identify the seizure focus.
- Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) - When appropriate, Ictal SPECT scan can help identify the seizure focus through a radio-tagged agent injected during the very early stage of a seizure. We post-process the SPECT studies using sophisticated computer techniques. This provides more accurate seizure focus localization by subtracting baseline injection images from the seizure injection images.
When Test Results are in, How is the Decision Whether to Recommend Surgery Made?
At Cleveland Clinic, after the necessary tests are completed, your child’s case will be presented at the Epilepsy Center’s almost daily Patient Management Conference. Here, a multidisciplinary group — including pediatric epileptologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, psychiatrists, bioethicists, social workers and nurses gathers to review and discuss all the data collected. If the data clearly shows a definite, localized seizure focus that can be removed without creating significant risk of loss of function, the decision to offer surgery can be made at this point.
Other professionals may be consulted to further assist with the surgical experience. Special Child Life workers help prepare children by explaining procedures and touring monitoring units and operating rooms before surgery. Social workers and bioethicists work closely with the epilepsy team to help resolve issues patients may have related to surgery
Types of Surgery
What are the Different Types of Epilepsy Surgery Procedures Available?
After presenting the group’s final recommendations to the child’s family and local physicians, the members of the Pediatric Epilepsy Program remain available for questions before any decision is carried out. Consultations with experienced neurosurgeons and additional patient evaluations are completed prior to surgery.
If a family decides to pursue pediatric epilepsy surgery, a team of experts is assembled — including pediatric neurosurgeons, epileptologists, intensive care staff members and pediatric anesthesia specialists. Using the safest surgical approach is a high priority for our pediatric epilepsy surgery team, which has a proud history of minimizing the risk of surgical complications.
Children are often well suited for epilepsy surgery since their brains are still developing and can heal more easily from surgery. The surgical approaches commonly used for pediatric epilepsy include:
Lesionectomy
A lesionectomy is performed to remove isolated lesions, such as tumors or congenital malformations of blood vessels in the brain that have been identified as the primary seizure focus. Leading-edge stereotactic (three-dimensional) imaging and surgical localization techniques are often used to further aid the surgeon in defining the specific area to be resected and can help limit the size of the incision required for the resection.
An awake craniotomy is performed when speech, motor control and/or vision centers of the brain are adjacent to the area of resection. This type of surgery is performed with local anesthesia and short-term anesthetic agents.
Heavy sedation required for making the incision is lightened to allow speech testing by the epileptologist as the neurosurgeon applies low-voltage electrical current to stimulate areas of the brain. Functional areas are mapped and avoided when the epileptic focus is resected.
Laser Ablation
In this procedure, surgeons use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide the use of laser interstitial thermal therapy. The laser, or tiny probe uses controlled heat to target and destroy scare tissue in the region of the brain where the seizures originate from. The procedure requires a 24-hour hospital stay, with patients typically returning home the next day.
Lobectomy
The brain has several areas known as lobes — the temporal, frontal, parietal and occipital lobes — and seizures may originate in any of these areas. A lobectomy is an operation to remove part or all of a lobe. Generally, seizures that originate in either of the two temporal lobes (one on each side of the head, just above each ear) are complex partial seizures. Anterior (front) and mesial (deep middle) temporal lobe resections are the most common of all epilepsy surgical procedures. Operations to remove sections of other lobes are also possible, providing tests show that no vital functions are controlled by these areas.
Hemispherectomy
In rare instances, a patient may have severe, uncontrollable, incapacitating seizures coupled with weakness or paralysis of one side of the body. This typically results from damage to the brain caused by an underlying disease. For such patients, a hemispherectomy may be considered. There are several types of hemispherectomies:
- Functional hemispherectomy involves removing a portion of the brain’s hemisphere. The remaining tissue and fibers that communicate with the other side of the brain are disconnected.
- Anatomic hemispherectomy involves removing the entire half of the brain, including the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes. Deeper brain structures, such as the basal ganglia and thalamus, are left in place.
- Peri-insular hemispherectomy involves disconnecting certain fibers, interrupting the communication network of the affected brain hemisphere.
Neurosurgeons in Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center have been leaders in performing hemispherectomies for the last 30 years.
Based on the underlying cause of a patient’s epilepsy, our highly experienced epilepsy neurosurgeons will recommend which procedure is the optimal treatment option.
In many cases, following the surgery, the other side of a person’s brain takes over many of the functions that were previously controlled by the side that was removed or disconnected.
Corpus Callostomy
This surgery may be warranted if seizures are disabling, if they cause dangerous and frequent falls, or if they are intractable, generalized (grand mal) seizures that begin on one side of the brain and spread quickly to the other. In this procedure, nerve fibers connecting the two halves of the brain are severed, interrupting the spread of seizures. The surgery may be performed in several stages. Though seizures generally do not stop entirely with this surgery, they usually become less severe.
Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes in the brain, which deliver electrical impulses that block or change the abnormal activity that cause symptoms.
The deep brain stimulation system consists of four parts:
- Leads (thin insulated wires) that end in electrodes that are implanted in the brain
- A small pacemaker-like device, called a pulse generator, that creates the electrical pulses
- Extension leads that carry electrical pulses from the device and are attached to the leads implanted in the brain
- Hand-held programmer device that adjusts the device’s signals and can turn the device off and on.
In deep brain stimulation, electrodes are placed in the targeted areas of the brain. The electrodes are connected by wires to a type of pacemaker device (called an implantable pulse generator) placed under the skin of the chest below the collarbone.
Once activated, the pulse generator sends continuous electrical pulses to the target areas in the brain, modifying the abnormal activity in that areas of the brain that is causing symptoms and therefore, help in decreasing the frequency and severity of seizures. The deep brain stimulation system operates much the same way as a pacemaker for the heart. In fact, deep brain stimulation is referred to as “the pacemaker for the brain.”
Neuropace® RNS® System
The RNS® System is an adjunctive therapy for reducing the frequency of seizures which can’t be controlled with medication or surgical resection. The RNS System can detect the beginnings of abnormal brain activity and disrupt it with electrical pulses before it becomes a seizure. A small, battery-powered device (called a neurostimulator) is surgically implanted in the skull. Wires (called leads) that are connected to the neurostimulator are placed on and/ or inside the brain. The neurostimulator monitors the electrical activity of the brain and detects abnormal activity that could lead to a seizure. If abnormal activity is detected, the neurostimulator delivers electrical stimulation to the brain through the leads to help prevent the seizure before it occurs. The neurostimulator is programmed for initial use after it is surgically implanted and the settings will be adjusted by your physician on an ongoing basis as needed.
Recovery
How Long Does it Take to Recover from Epilepsy Surgery?
After surgery, you child will stay in the hospital between two and five days, depending on the type of surgery they received. Most pediatric patients are ready to resume many routine activities, with some restrictions. Sutures are removed 10 to 14 days following the surgery.
Patients will need to continue anti-seizure medication (s). If your child remains seizure-free over an extended period, their neurologist may gradually reduce or even eliminate anti-seizure medication(s), although this is rarely done. It is important to note isolated seizures may occur one to two weeks following surgery and are not an indication of long-term outcomes and potential of seizure freedom. It is also essential to stay in contact with your child’s epileptologist or neurologist to monitor seizure activity and anti-seizure medication.
After surgery, school and other activities are generally restricted for approximately six weeks following surgery, or until your child’s first post-operative checkup. Your child’s doctor will provide you with detailed instructions. Post-surgical appointments can be done at Cleveland Clinic or through a live virtual visit for you or child in the comfort of your own home.
What Help is Available to Help Children Recover from Epilepsy Surgery?
Cleveland Clinic Children’s Rehabilitation campus provides post-surgical care and outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation. A dedicated team of pediatric specialists, including doctors, nurses, rehabilitation specialists and psychosocial support staff works with the Epilepsy Center and each family to help children reach their full potential. Pediatric therapists work one-on-one with each child using the most advanced equipment specially designed for children. Each child’s rehabilitation needs are assessed and they may be offered options that will maximize their function by:
- Providing a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to their care immediately after epilepsy surgery
- Maximizing the benefits of rehabilitation following surgery
- Coordinating an outpatient rehabilitation treatment plan after acute inpatient hospitalization
The rehabilitation team coordinates care after transfer and maintains communication with all providers, including the family’s pediatrician. Case managers help transition the child’s support network back to the comfort of home and local medical facilities.
This comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach draws on the resources of Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Epilepsy Center and the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation.
Programs
Cleveland Clinic’s Tuberous Sclerosis Program
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a genetic condition with a spectrum of clinical expressions. It commonly presents with epilepsy, autism or developmental delay, and skin birthmarks in early childhood. Sometimes, during adolescent years, skin lesions resembling severe acne may be the presenting feature. Cleveland Clinic’s Tuberous Sclerosis Program is offered through the Epilepsy Center and provides comprehensive longitudinal medical and surgical care to patients and families with TSC.
The program offers a focused team approach from expert physicians who deliver comprehensive, multidisciplinary medical and surgical care. These physicians discuss patient care, as needed, to provide the best treatment option. Through this program we will also advance our understanding and treatment of Tuberous Sclerosis through collaborative research, and provide an educational avenue to families with Tuberous Sclerosis.
If you have a specific question regarding a patient or our TSC program, contact Ajay Gupta, MD, at 216.445.060 (toll-free 1.800.223.2273, ext. 50601) or by email at guptaa1@ccf.org.
Cleveland Clinic’s Sturge-Weber Program
Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS) is a rare, non-genetic condition resulting from an abnormal development of blood vessels of the skin, eyes and brain. This neurological disorder causes seizures at birth, accompanied by a large port-wine stain birthmark on the forehead and upper eyelid of one side of the face. The birthmark can vary in color from light pink to deep purple and is caused by an overabundance of capillaries around the trigeminal nerve just beneath the surface of the face.
At Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center, we have established a multidisciplinary team of dedicated pediatric and adult epilepsy specialists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, functional neuroimaging experts, cognitive and behavior experts, health psychologists and bioethicists to administer epilepsy care to SWS patients.
If you have a specific question regarding a patient or our SWS program, contact Ajay Gupta, MD, at 216.445.0601 (toll-free at 1.800.223.2273, ext. 50601) or by email at guptaa1@ccf.org.
Biennial Support Group Reunion
Cleveland Clinic hosts a Biennial Reunion for Pediatric Epilepsy surgery patients reuniting hundreds of patients and family members across the U.S. with their caregivers. Parents have the opportunity to meet other parents whose children underwent epilepsy surgeries. The reunion also includes workshops on medications/medical issues; rehabilitation; psychosocial/school and learning issues. Break-out sessions give parents with a change to get their questions answered by an expert panel. Patients and their siblings enjoy supervised fun-filled activities with our team of volunteers. To learn more, visit our epilepsy support page or email pediatricepilepsysupport@ccf.org.
First Aid for Seizures
Learn to recognize common symptoms of seizures:
- Staring and unresponsiveness
- Confusion
- Jerks and twitches
- Wandering
- Shaking or falling
- Picking or lip smacking
- Whole-body convulsions (grand mal seizure)
First aid steps: Non-convulsive seizures
- Watch the person carefully to recognize the seizure
- Speak quietly and calmly to the person
- Explain to others what is happening
- Guide the person gently to a safe area away from any danger such as water, machinery or fire
- Don’t restrain the person or try to stop the movements
- Stay with the person until he or she regains complete consciousness
Additional first aid steps:
Grand mal (convulsive) seizure
- Time the seizure
- Look for an “Epilepsy” or “Seizure Disorders” bracelet
- Place the person on his or her side, away from hazardous objects
- Don’t put anything in the person’s mouth
- Remove eyeglasses and any tight objects around the person’s neck
- Call 9-1-1 if the seizure lasts more than five minutes or results in injury
- Stay with the person until help arrives
What if my Child Does Not Respond to Medication?
Why some patients respond well to a certain medication and not to another is not fully understood. This is why it is important to precisely identify the exact type of seizure with video-EEG monitoring and to determine of the underlying cause of epilepsy when considering what treatment will be the most effective for your child.
Children with refractory epilepsy may be considered for dietary treatment which can be considered as a safe and effective alternative therapy. Children may also be evaluated for epilepsy surgery.
What is the Ketogenic Diet and How Can It Help?
An epilepsy treatment option for children whose seizures remain uncontrolled — even with medication — is the ketogenic diet: a high-fat, optimal protein, low-carbohydrate regimen. The ketogenic diet is used when a child’s seizures have not been satisfactorily controlled with adequate trials of medications or when a child has experienced undesirable side effects from the various seizure drugs. When the ketogenic diet is not practical, alternatives include a low-carbohydrate diet program or a low-glycemic diet. If a child has surgically treatable epilepsy, surgery is the preferred treatment.
An important requirement for beginning the diet is a commitment from those who will be taking care of the child because the diet requires extra time and effort – especially in the early stages of treatment. To be successful, families must be committed and disciplined in sticking to the diet. At Cleveland Clinic, support is readily available from the “Keto Team,” which includes an epileptologist, registered dietitians and a registered nurse (ketogenic diet coordinator).
To help safely and effectively implement the diet, our specialized team coordinates a comprehensive neurological and nutritional assessment. The team will assist in jump-starting the diet during your child’s hospital stay and monitor for any side effects. You will be given meal plans before you leave the hospital. Our ketogenic diet team is also available to answer any questions that you may have once you have returned home.
Patient Services
Pediatric Epilepsy Support Group (PESG)
Cleveland Clinic’s Pediatric Epilepsy Support Group (PESG) is designed to meet and address the needs of families who are caring for children with difficult-to-control epilepsy. The Pediatric Epilepsy Support Group is a way for families to interact with the members of the support group, as well as with each other.
Caring for a child with refractory epilepsy is not easy and families often find their emotional resources spread thin. It is even more daunting to come to the hospital for evaluation with new and sophisticated diagnostic tests, participate in discussions involving epilepsy surgery as a possible treatment option and undergo procedures such as invasive monitoring of seizures for accurate surgical planning. Many families find the weekly PESG meetings to be a source of strength and comfort during diagnosis, treatment and following epilepsy surgery.
Check Out Videos from the Epilepsy Center Team
Experts from the Epilepsy Center will help you learn about:
- How is epilepsy diagnosed? And what are EEG, MEG, WADA, EEG/fMRI and SEEG tests?
- How do I prepare for a visit to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit?
- What help is available for adults and children with epilepsyrelated behavioral health needs?
- Who is a surgical candidate? How can surgery eliminate seizures?
Also, learn about how our patient management conference helps patients, our success with keeping many patients seizure-free and what Cleveland Clinic patients have to say about their care. Log on today to: clevelandclinic.org/epilepsyvideos.
Nurse on Call
Free, confidential, reliable information from registered nurses only a phone call away: 216.444.1234.
MyChart
Cleveland Clinic’s MyChart® is a secure, online tool that connects you to portions of your medical record from the privacy of your home. Utilize this free service to manage your healthcare at any time, day or night!
- View test results
- Renew prescriptions
- Schedule appointments online in real-time with your primary care physician
- Manage your health on the go with our free MyChart mobile app
- Request appointments with your specialist
- Receive important health reminders
- Manage the healthcare of your dependents and loved ones with MyChart Caregiver
Appointments
Make an Appointment
To make an appointment for an evaluation with a Cleveland Clinic pediatric epileptologist, please call 216.636.5860 or toll free 866.588.2264.
Virtual Visits
Whether you're a new or existing patient, you can get an initial evaluation or follow-up care from a pediatric epilepsy specialist using your phone, tablet or computer. This means there's no travel or parking, less waiting and significant time savings. Call 216.636.5860 to schedule a virtual visit for you or a loved one and get details on cost and set-up instructions.
Virtual Second Opinion
If you cannot travel to Cleveland Clinic, help is available. You can connect with Cleveland Clinic specialists from any location in the world via a phone, tablet, or computer, eliminating the burden of travel time and other obstacles. If you’re facing a significant medical condition or treatment such as surgery, this program provides virtual access to a Cleveland Clinic physician who will review the diagnosis and treatment plan. Following a comprehensive evaluation of medical records and labs, you’ll receive an educational second opinion from an expert in their medical condition covering diagnosis, treatment options or alternatives as well as recommendations regarding future therapeutic considerations. You’ll also have the unique opportunity to speak with the physician expert directly to address questions or concerns.
Why Choose Us?
Choosing Your Child's Epilepsy Care
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. Our experienced and dedicated team of specialists within the Pediatric Epilepsy Program of the Epilepsy Center at Cleveland Clinic is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of children with epilepsy and can work with you and your family to find the best treatment plan for your child.
Families from across the country and around the world come to the Epilepsy Center to receive the most advanced and specialized care. Our expert clinical team includes physicians who specialize in neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, psychology and psychiatry, as well as nurses and social workers.
Together, they provide leading-edge diagnostics, extensive medical and surgical treatment programs, and access to experimental therapies not widely available. Our team’s experience and expertise has yielded some of the best seizure-free outcomes worldwide.
Pediatric Epilepsy Program
Facts and Figures – 2019
- 2,000+ pediatric patient visits
- 100+ pediatric surgeries
- 500+ pediatric monitoring unit admissions
- 9-bed pediatric EMU, operating 24/7 with the latest technology and all-digital video EEG equipment
- Pediatric epilepsy imaging
- Advanced diagnostic capabilities
- Cognitive and behavioral program
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