About the Drexel University College of Medicine Epilepsy Program
The Drexel Medicine comprehensive epilepsy program uses a team of dedicated epileptologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, nurses, and EEG technicians to treat patients with epilepsy in the Philadelphia area.
Our epilepsy program features:
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Inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit with video and EEG monitoring of patients
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MRI, SPECT, and PET scanning
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Neuropsychological testing
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Wada test
Seizure patients who fail to respond to medical therapy are offered surgical options including placement of a vagus nerve stimulator. The program is also involved in various clinical trials related to epilepsy.
About Epilepsy
A seizure is caused by a brief strong surge in electrical activity in the brain, which affects part or all of the body. When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.
Epilepsy Facts
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One in 10 adults will have a seizure sometime during his or her life.
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More than 3 million Americans are treated for epilepsy, most commonly with anti-seizure medications.
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Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Epilepsy Symptoms
Epilepsy symptoms may include convulsions and loss of consciousness. Some patients may just have staring episodes with or without lip smacking or other behaviors, or jerking movements of the arms and legs. Patients do not always lose consciousness. Some seizures may manifest as an abnormal taste or smell, or jerking of a part of the body, or abnormal sensations, during which the patient may remain conscious.
Diagnosis of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is usually diagnosed by history and clinical examination, supported by tests like electroencephalography (EEG).
Medications are usually the first treatment to be tried. There are many available medications, and the type of medicine that is prescribed depends on the kind of epilepsy the person has. If the patient does not respond to medications, surgery is considered in suitable candidates. In patients unsuitable for surgery, an electrical stimulating device called vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) is implanted in order to reduce or stop seizures.
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