Pediatric Neurology
Wake Forest Baptist houses one of North Carolina’s largest and most comprehensive epilepsy monitoring units. Pediatric neurologists coordinate a multidisciplinary approach to treat epilepsy via medications and neurosurgical interventions. Neurologists also conduct national clinical trials to search for new medications to treat epilepsy and to study the effectiveness of currently prescribed medications.
Working with pediatric pulmonologists, neurologists diagnose and treat sleep disorders in children in the region’s only accredited sleep clinic and laboratory.
Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
Wake Forest Baptist’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center is recognized nationally for the management of epilepsy. With our comprehensive approach to care, we are among the top-rated epilepsy programs in the country and the only program in western North Carolina that meets the Level IV guidelines of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers -- the highest level of accreditation a medical center can achieve.
Wake Forest Baptist offers a full range of services from routine screenings to treatment options for the most complicated cases. Our epileptologists -- including specialists in pediatric epilepsy – are experts in selecting the drug combinations most suitable for each patient. When medication alone can’t control seizures, we evaluate patients for other treatment options including surgical procedures. We offer patients the most sophisticated tests available.
The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center provides Level IV care -- the highest level of care found in the region. Full-time epileptologists, a neurosurgeon experienced in epilepsy surgery, nurse clinicians, social workers, pharmacists and neuropsychologists work with patients to diagnose and treat the disease, which affects about one percent of the population. Researchers at the medical center work to find a cure for the disorder and their patients benefit from the newest therapies available. Our leadership in the field of epilepsy treatment allows patients early access to the newest medications through clinical trials.
Our Comprehensive Epilepsy Center is one of only 18 clinical sites in the country, and the only site in North Carolina or surrounding states, to utilize magnetoencephalography (MEG) – an innovative diagnostic tool that provides valuable information about normal and abnormal function of the brain.
Surgical options now available
Temporal lobectomy, a surgical procedure that involves removing parts of the temporal lobe that cause seizures, is offering hope to epilepsy patients who have not been responsive to medical therapy.
Neurologists and neurosurgeons at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center use electroencephalograms (EEG), positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the state-of-the-art Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) to pinpoint the exact origin of the disease. Surgeons then remove the scarred tissue to reduce or eliminate the seizures.
The surgery removes a small part of the temporal lobe, part of the brain that extends from the temples to just past the ears. Patients must have failed at least one standard and one new medication to be considered for surgery. Eighty percent of patients are cured with this procedure and 95 percent have a dramatic reduction of their seizures. It adds a tremendous amount to their quality of life.
About 15 to 30 temporal lobectomies are performed each year at the medical center. Just 10 years ago seizure-free living was unthinkable for many people with epilepsy. Today that can be achieved even in difficult-to-control cases.
In March 2006, neurosurgeon Steven Glazier, M.D. performed a temporal lobectomy during a live internet broadcast. The webcast is available for viewing by the general public as well as medical professionals. The program is archived for viewing at any time. To view any of Wake Forest Baptist’s webcasts go to www1.wfubmc.edu/webcasts/.