Epilepsy Treatment
Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento

Epilepsy affects more than 300,000 American children. The condition varies in severity and while some children respond well to medication and eventually outgrow their seizures, others are severely impacted. Children with epilepsy face an increased risk of accidents and subsequent health concerns as well as mental, social and educational disadvantages.

Epilepsy in children can be a co-morbidity of another medical condition such as a brain tumor, trauma, autism or head injury, but in many cases the cause is unknown. Seizures can be broken down into two categories, generalized and partial, and childhood seizures may be classified as part of several epileptic syndromes. Identification of the type of seizure disorder and possible syndrome in childhood may dramatically improve options for obtaining effective treatment.

Our Program
We believe every child should have the opportunity to receive proper diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. Our epileptologist, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, and nutritionists have special training and experience in treating epilepsy in children and work together to diagnose and treat the condition through medical and surgical intervention.

Diagnosis
Treatment begins by pinpointing the classification of seizures through diagnostic exams and tests. At Sutter, our specialists use a number of clinical and behavioral tests to arrive at a diagnosis, these include:

• Comprehensive neurological examination
• Epilepsy genetic testing
• EEG monitoring
• Neuro-imaging including MRI studies, CT, PET, brain spectroscopy and angiography
• Neuropsychological evaluation

Treatment
Once the exact type of seizure is known, our specialists work with the patient and family on a tailored treatment plan, some options include:

• Anticonvulsive medications
• Ketogenic diet
• Neurosurgery
• Vagus nerve stimulation

Program Highlights
Epileptologist
Michael G. Chez, M.D., fellowship-trained epileptologist and board-certified pediatric neurologist, is medical director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Program, bringing more than 20 years experience providing complex diagnostic consultation and coordination of pharmacologic and surgical options, including brain mapping techniques, for children with epilepsy.

Pediatric Neurology
Our program has services of five pediatric neurologists who offer initial diagnostic and initial epilepsy management within our Pediatric Epilepsy Program.

Pediatric Neurologists
Shailesh Asaikar, M.D.
Michael Chez, M.D.
Paul Chretien, M.D.
Amer Khan, M.D.
Ashutosh Raina, M.D.

Neurosurgery
With the expertise of our fellowship-trained pediatric and adult neurosurgeons, we are able to offer cutting-edge neurosurgical care, from non-invasive Gamma Knife Radiosurgery to vagus nerve stimulation to functional brain mapping, resection, corpus callosotomy and hemispherectomy.

Pediatric Neurosurgeon
Samuel Ciricllo, M.D., FACS

Inpatient Care
The Sutter Children’s Center, Sacramento recently expanded the number of dedicated beds for 24-hour electroencephalogram (EEG), video and audio monitoring and now offers the largest number pediatric epilepsy monitoring beds in California. This allows us to provide the patient and their family with a diagnosis faster then ever before, and long-term monitoring for those who need further testing used to more clearly define where seizures originate.

Rehabilitation
Our program includes the expertise of a pediatric rehabilitation specialist, inpatient rehabilitation at the Children’s Center and a new outpatient pediatric rehabilitation clinic and gym.

Research
Our specialists participate in clinical trials for experimental treatments which frequently lead to improved patient care for people worldwide.

Child Life Program
The Child Life Program at Sutter Children’s Center offers special support to the child and family to make life as normal as possible and to minimize emotional trauma. Staff provides therapeutic play and recreational activities while the child receives care at the Children’s Center and offers compassionate support to help the family navigate their hospital stay.

Parent Support Group
This group supports the parents of children with epilepsy in the Sacramento Region. Our goal is to provide a forum in which parents can receive helpful information from guest speakers and other parents dealing with epilepsy-related issues. Learn More about the Parent Support Group

Referrals
For more information or a referral to the Pediatric Epilepsy program, call Sutter Neuroscience Institute at (888) 287-2270.