IUCEC Activities and Functions
The clinic prefers that a patient be referred by a physician, although patients may also call directly for an appointment. The Epilepsy Clinic provides comprehensive management to patients with epilepsy through evaluation, medication, surgical treatment, psychiatric management and psychosocial counseling. Also, patients with epilepsy may be seen by individual epileptologists in private clinics held at University Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children and Wishard Memorial Hospital.
University Hospital
To make an appointment at University Hospital or Riley Hospital for Children, call Neurology Scheduling at (317) 278-5450 or toll free at (866) 740-1941. To make an appointment at the Wishard Epilepsy Clinic, call (317) 630-7004.
click here to visit research page
To inquire if you may be a candidate for these experimental surgeries, call the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at (317) 274-0180 or (800) 210-7123.
The Indiana University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center has been in existence since the early 1970’s and has grown to be the only Level 4 epilepsy center in the state of Indiana. A Level 4 designation is the highest ranking given by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, and serves as a regional and/or national referral facility.
Epilepsy Clinic
The Epilepsy Clinic is held on Wednesday mornings at the University Hospital, Neurology Clinic from 8:00am to noon. Appointments may be made by calling Neurology Scheduling at (317) 278-5450 or toll free at (866) 740-1941.The clinic prefers that a patient be referred by a physician, although patients may also call directly for an appointment. The Epilepsy Clinic provides comprehensive management to patients with epilepsy through evaluation, medication, surgical treatment, psychiatric management and psychosocial counseling. Also, patients with epilepsy may be seen by individual epileptologists in private clinics held at University Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children and Wishard Memorial Hospital.
University Hospital
To make an appointment at University Hospital or Riley Hospital for Children, call Neurology Scheduling at (317) 278-5450 or toll free at (866) 740-1941. To make an appointment at the Wishard Epilepsy Clinic, call (317) 630-7004.
Epilepsy Monitoring Units
There are three Epilepsy Monitoring Units, one at University Hospital (six beds), one at Methodist Hospital (two beds), and one at Riley Children’s Hospital (three beds). Patients with suspected epileptic seizures or episodic phenomena are continuously monitored by simultaneous video/EEG to- Confirm the diagnosis of epileptic seizures
- Characterize epileptic seizures
- Classify an epilepsy syndrome
- Localize an epileptogenic focus
- Distinguish epileptic episodes from nonepileptic episodes
Diagnostic Tests
All types of diagnostic evaluations of patients with epilepsy are offered at the Indiana University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. These include:- Routine Wake/Sleep EEG
- MRI scan (including 3 Tesla scans)
- Video/EEG monitoring from scalp and sphenoidal electrodes
- Neuropsychological testing
- Psychiatric evaluation and management
- PT scan
- SPECT scan (interictal and ictal)
- Intracarotid sodium amytal test (Wada test)
- Electrocorticography
- Invasive intracranial recordings from
- Subdural grids
- Depth electrodes
Treatment Options
Epilepsy Surgery
Patients with epilepsy whose seizures cannot be adequately controlled by antiepileptic drugs are considered for surgical treatment at the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. Appropriate diagnostic evaluation precedes surgical management. Appropriate surgical procedures are decided by a team consisting of epileptologists and the neurosurgeon. The following epilepsy surgeries are performed at the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center for both children and adults:
Resection of Epileptogenic Focus
The most common is the anterior temporal lobectomy to treat medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. The success rate is similar to other comprehensive epilepsy centers in the United States and abroad. Two-thirds anterior temporal lobectomy patients become seizure free and the remaining attain markedly improved seizure control after anterior temporal lobectomy. The IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center has performed anterior temporal lobectomies since 1984 and has done over 400 surgeries, the only center with this long and extensive experience in the state of Indiana.
Vagal Nerve Stimulation
Vagal nerve stimulation is a palliative surgery which is performed in patients with medically refractory epilepsy who are not suitable candidates for resective surgery. It is FDA approved. A battery-driven stimulator is placed in the upper left chest, and the left vagus nerve is stimulated by thin leads going from the chest device to the mid-neck region. The IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center has performed over 200 such surgeries.
Hemispherectomy
Hemispherectomy, which is surgical removal of major portions of the diseased half of the brain, is performed in children with extensive unilateral cerebral lesions that result in medically refractory epilepsy.
To inquire or to refer a patient for epilepsy surgery, please call the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at (317) 274-0180 or (800) 210-7123.
ResearchPatients with epilepsy whose seizures cannot be adequately controlled by antiepileptic drugs are considered for surgical treatment at the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. Appropriate diagnostic evaluation precedes surgical management. Appropriate surgical procedures are decided by a team consisting of epileptologists and the neurosurgeon. The following epilepsy surgeries are performed at the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center for both children and adults:
Resection of Epileptogenic Focus
The most common is the anterior temporal lobectomy to treat medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. The success rate is similar to other comprehensive epilepsy centers in the United States and abroad. Two-thirds anterior temporal lobectomy patients become seizure free and the remaining attain markedly improved seizure control after anterior temporal lobectomy. The IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center has performed anterior temporal lobectomies since 1984 and has done over 400 surgeries, the only center with this long and extensive experience in the state of Indiana.
Vagal Nerve Stimulation
Vagal nerve stimulation is a palliative surgery which is performed in patients with medically refractory epilepsy who are not suitable candidates for resective surgery. It is FDA approved. A battery-driven stimulator is placed in the upper left chest, and the left vagus nerve is stimulated by thin leads going from the chest device to the mid-neck region. The IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center has performed over 200 such surgeries.
Hemispherectomy
Hemispherectomy, which is surgical removal of major portions of the diseased half of the brain, is performed in children with extensive unilateral cerebral lesions that result in medically refractory epilepsy.
To inquire or to refer a patient for epilepsy surgery, please call the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at (317) 274-0180 or (800) 210-7123.
click here to visit research page
- Investigational Drug Programs
- Protocol-Driven Research
- Deep brain stimulation
- Electrical stimulation of certain deep brain structures by intracerebral electrodes to control epileptic seizures. This study has been completed and sent to FDA for review.
- NeuroPace
- A new technique to recognize the start of a seizure followed by electrical stimulation of the appropriate area to stop the seizure through electrodes placed in the epileptogenic focus. This study is close to completion.
To inquire if you may be a candidate for these experimental surgeries, call the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at (317) 274-0180 or (800) 210-7123.
