About Epilepsy Surgery & Infantile Spasms
While brain surgery has been a viable option on adults for many years, it is still a relatively new option for pediatric patients suffering from various epilepsy diagnoses. Miles for Kyle is intended to raise awareness for pediatric epilepsy surgery. Proceeds and contributions will be donated to Dr. Deepak Lachwanni of the Cleveland Clinic’s Pediatric Epilepsy Support Group (PESG) to support the ongoing research necessary to assist other pediatric patients and their families.
o Pediatric epilepsy surgery can be used to treat a highly selected group of patients whose seizures are not controllable by standard means.
o The appropriate candidate for epilepsy surgery must meet several criteria.
o There are currently three major categories of epilepsy surgery: resective surgery, corpus collosotomy, and implantation of the vagus nerve stimulator.
o In patients that meet the requirements for epilepsy surgery the results, in terms of seizure control, can be very positive with minimal side effects and complications.
What are Infantile Spasms?
Infantile spasm (IS) is a specific type of seizure seen in an epilepsy syndrome of infancy and early childhood. The onset is predominantly in the first year of life, typically between 3-6 months. The typical pattern of IS is a sudden bending forward and stiffening of the body, arms, and legs; although there can also be arching of the torso. Spasms tend to begin soon after arousal from sleep. Individual spasms typically last for 1 to 5 seconds and occur in clusters, ranging from 2 to 100 spasms at a time. Infants may have dozens of clusters and several hundred spasms per day. Infantile spasms usually stop by age 5, but are often replaced by other seizure types.
Infantile spasm (IS) is a specific type of seizure seen in an epilepsy syndrome of infancy and early childhood. The onset is predominantly in the first year of life, typically between 3-6 months. The typical pattern of IS is a sudden bending forward and stiffening of the body, arms, and legs; although there can also be arching of the torso. Spasms tend to begin soon after arousal from sleep. Individual spasms typically last for 1 to 5 seconds and occur in clusters, ranging from 2 to 100 spasms at a time. Infants may have dozens of clusters and several hundred spasms per day. Infantile spasms usually stop by age 5, but are often replaced by other seizure types.
Is there any treatment?
Treatment with corticosteroids such as ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) and prednisone is standard, despite the risk of serious side effects. Newer antiepileptic medications, such as vigabatrin (which has recently received US FDA approval) have shown some efficacy.
Treatment with corticosteroids such as ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) and prednisone is standard, despite the risk of serious side effects. Newer antiepileptic medications, such as vigabatrin (which has recently received US FDA approval) have shown some efficacy.