The Advanced Diagnostic/Monitoring Laboratory at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center is an epilepsy center of the
USC Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, a program established over twenty years ago and among the first dedicated programs
to specialize in the treatment of epilepsy. It is currently one of the busiest epilepsy programs in the nation,
seeing over 5,000 patients per year.
Understanding Epilepsy
An estimated 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy - a neurological disorder characterized by seizures. This common,
but very complicated, ailment occurs when there is an abnormal, excessive amount of neuronal activity in the brain. It is more
likely to occur in young children, or people over 65; however, it can occur at any time. The USC Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
provides the latest treatments for patients challenged with epilepsy.
There are more than 40 different types of epilepsy with a variety of seizure types exhibited. The USC Comprehensive Epilepsy
Program is designed to:
- Provide personalized and customized care to each patient.
- Use the most innovative therapies and research protocols.
- Access our diverse multi-disciplinary team to create treatment plans tailored to the specific needs of each patient.
- Involve family in the treatment plan to help them deal with the stress and anxiety that accompanies chronic illness, as
well as provide education to help understand this complex disease.
The Epilepsy Team
With an exceptional team of physicians and dedicated epilepsy staff, our care is driven toward innovative epilepsy
treatment with a strong emphasis placed on patient education. Our goal is to provide accessible, customized multi-disciplinary
care, tailoring treatment to the specific needs of each patient. Our commitment to better understanding epilepsy is
reflected in our various research activities and interests.
Our program provides:
- Inpatient and outpatient diagnostic services
- Extensive EEG monitoring
- Surgical procedures
- Numerous research programs
Diagnosing Epilepsy
It’s complicated. Patients of the USC Comprehensive Epilepsy Program benefit from a collaborative effort between neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and
neuropsychology. A thorough patient exam begins the process. Each of these disciplines is critical to the decisions made
in the care of our patients.
Vital information can be learned from:
Neuroradiology - The primary mode of brain imaging is our 3T MRI scanner. Also PET scanning and MRI/PET fusion have become valuable tools
for epilepsy/surgical evaluation.
Neurophysiology - This is an inpatient opportunity to monitor and evaluate a patient’s seizures. Scalp electrodes are used and there is
no discomfort to the patient. A video/EEG telemetry technology provides invaluable data to the neurological team.
Neuropsychology - An assessment is a key component to a patient’s evaluation. This assessment helps tests cognitive abilities in an effort
to help find the region in which the seizure originates. If surgery is performed, this assessment process will help track
the changes achieved.
Neurosurgery - If a patient’s seizure cannot be localized with scalp electrodes, the patient may be a good candidate for intracranial
video/EEG monitoring. The placement of the electrodes is done surgically.
Treatment Options
Both medication and surgical treatments are available depending on the type/severity of the seizures:
Medication - The USC epileptologist is an expert at optimizing
medication management of seizures and works with the individual to find the medication that works best with the least
side effects.
Surgical Treatment Options - Although there is no cure for epilepsy,
the physicians on staff at the USC Comprehensive Epilepsy Program can use their surgical expertise to help patients improve
management of this disorder:
Epilepsy Surgery – includes temporal lobectomey, lovar resection
and lesionectomy, often performed with intra-operative monitoring.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation – a device that delivers regular electrical
stimulation through the vagus nerve to the brain. When implanted, it is designed to reduce seizure frequency.
Responsive Neurostimulation System – a device implanted cranially,
utilizing electrodes to help decrease the number of seizures. When the neurostimulator detects a seizure, it
responds by sending electrical stimulation through leads to the seizure focus area, in an attempt to stop it.
GammaKnife Radiosurgery – this form of radiation surgery is an
experimental protocol to treat temporal lobe epilepsy. Called the Rose Trial, this study will compare the outcomes
of traditional surgery and radiosurgery. USC is one of only 13 sites in the United States participating in this trial.
Patient Stories
Making an Appointment is Easy
The USC Comprehensive Epilepsy Program welcomes patient referrals for consultation and treatment. Call or email us at:
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
USC Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
Phone: (323) 422-5710
Email: epilepsy@med.usc.edu
For More Information
To find out more, including information about the doctors and support team, innovations in epilepsy research, other
clinic locations, etc. visit the
USC Comprehensive Epilepsy Program Web Site.
