Indiana

Comprehensive

Epilepsy

     Services

Indiana University Comprehensive Epilepsy Program (Center)

(800)210-7123

(317)274-0180

Indiana Epilepsy Services constitutes an integral part of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program of the Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine.

The IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center has been in existence since the early 1970s and has grown to be the only program of its kind in the state of Indiana.  It is partly supported by funding from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitation Services.  Patients with epilepsy from all over the state, as well as some from neighboring states, are treated. 

The Indiana University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center is a member of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers and is designated as a Level 4 (the highest designation) Specialized Epilepsy Center.

Professional staff includes a dedicated team of specialists.

Epileptologists and clinical neurophysiologists

Omkar N. Markand, M.D., FRCP(C), Director

Vicenta Salanova, M.D.

Michael W. Risinger, M.D.

Dragos Sabau, M.D.

Hema Patel, M.D. (Pediatrics)

Psychiatrist

Elizabeth Bowman, M.D.

Neurosurgeons

Robert Worth, M.D., Ph.D.

Thomas Witt, M.D.

Jodi L. Smith, Ph.D., M.D. (Pediatric Neurosurgery)

Neuropsychologist

David Kareken, Ph.D.

Epilepsy Nurses

Marsha Manley, R.N.

Laquana Heard, L.P.N.

Epilepsy Coordinator

Eileen Whelihan, LCSW

Major functions of the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Program

Epilepsy Clinic

The Epilepsy Clinic is held on Wednesday morning at the University Hospital, Neurology Clinic from 8:00 a.m. to noon.  Appointments may be made by calling Neurology Central Scheduling at (317) 278-5450 or toll free (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. 

Patients with epilepsy may also be seen by individual epileptologists in private clinics held at University Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children and Wishard Memorial Hospital.  To make an appointment at University Hospital or Riley Hospital for Children, call Neurology Scheduling at (317) 278-5450 or toll free (866) 740-1941.  To make an appointment at the Wishard Epilepsy Clinic, call (317) 630-7004.

Epilepsy Monitoring Units

There are two Epilepsy Monitoring Units, one at University Hospital (six beds) and the second 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, to characterize epileptic seizures, to classify an epilepsy syndrome, to localize an epileptogenic focus, and to distinguish epileptic from nonepileptic episodes. 

Almost 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

PET scan

SPECT scan (interictal and ictal)

Intracarotid sodium Amytal test (Wada test)

Electrocorticography

Invasive intracranial recordings from

Subdural grids

Depth electrodes

Epilepsy Surgery

Patients with epilepsy whose seizures cannot be adequately controlled by antiepileptic drugs are offered 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.

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 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 100 such surgeries.

Hemispherectomy

Hemispherectomy is a procedure performed in children with extensive unilateral cerebral lesions resulting 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.

Protocol-driven experimental surgical procedures are also offered at the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.  These procedures include:

Deep brain stimulation

Electrical stimulation of certain deep brain structures by intracerebral electrodes to control epileptic seizures

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

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. 

Nonepileptic seizures or pseudoseizures

The IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Program has the longest and most extensive experience in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of patients who have spells mimicking epileptic seizures.  Diagnosis of pseudoseizures needs to be confirmed by video EEG – the “gold standard” test – before management can be instituted.

To refer a patient suspected to have pseudoseizures, please call the IU Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at (317) 274-0180 or (800) 210-7123.

EEG/Epilepsy Fellowship Program

The Department of Neurology of the Indiana University and its Comprehensive Epilepsy Program offers an ACGME-approved fellowship (1 year) in EEG/Epilepsy to train neurologists (who have completed an accredited neurology residency) who wish to specialize in the field of EEG and epilepsy.  The program has trained over 60 specialists since 1972.  Further information about the fellowship program may be obtained by calling (317) 274-0311.

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