If your child's epileptologist believes surgery is an option for your child, our Admission Coordinator will contact you to schedule an evaluation.
Phase I evaluation includes admission to our Long-Term Monitoring Unit of 9-North for 24-hour electroencephalogram (EEG), video and audio monitoring. Your child may undergo additional tests, including an MRI, PET, SPECT scan and EEG source localization while in the hospital.
After the Phase I evaluation, the Epilepsy Board meets to review the test data as a group. If they are able to identify the epileptic tissue and outline a safe procedure, they will recommend further testing for surgery and possibly a Phase II evaluation.
Phase II evaluation only occurs if the data collected during Phase I is not enough to determine if surgery is a viable option or which surgical technique will be most appropriate for your child. During Phase II evaluation, your child will undergo another inpatient stay on 9-North, which will involve more extensive testing, including subdural EEG monitoring (with EEG contacts inside the skull, directly on the surface of the brain). This advanced monitoring technique, only offered at Level 4 Epilepsy Centers, is used to more clearly define where seizures originate.
After each Phase, the Epilepsy Board will review the test data as a group. If they are able to identify the epileptic tissue and outline a safe procedure, they will recommend surgery. If they determine surgery isn't an option, they will recommend alternative therapies.
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