Surgical Management of Epilepsy in Children

If medications fail to control your child’s seizures, surgery may help bring relief. The expert team at Johns Hopkins Pediatric Neurosurgery can help explain your options carefully and determine if surgical treatment is a good choice for your child.

Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery: Why Choose Johns Hopkins?

multidisciplinary team examining patient

At Johns Hopkins, a multidisciplinary team will lend expertise to all aspects of your child’s experience, from consultation and preparation to surgery and recovery.
Newer imaging techniques make it easier and safer for neurosurgeons to treat the cause of your child’s seizures, whether they are due to scar tissue, tumors, cysts or other problems in the brain.
A specialized neuro-critical care unit (NCCU) ensures close monitoring and specialized assessment and care.
If surgery is recommended for your child’s seizures, you will find a dedicated and compassionate environment for healing at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, which offers comprehensive care and support for the entire family as well as the individual child.

Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery | Morgan’s Story

Daily epileptic seizures were severely affecting Morgan’s quality of life as a teenager in middle school. When her family learned she would need surgery for her epilepsy, they turned to pediatric neurosurgeon Shenandoah “Dody” Robinson at Johns Hopkins. Once the precise location in Morgan’s brain where the seizures were originating was located through imaging, laser ablation surgery was performed, leaving her seizure-free.

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Pediatric Epilepsy: Surgical Treatments

Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeons have expertise in several treatments designed to address stubborn or frequent seizures that do not respond to medication, including laser interstitial thermal therapy, or LiTT. Advanced imaging techniques both before and during the procedures optimize safety and effectiveness.

Our fellowship-trained pediatric neurosurgeons have extensive experience and skill in vagus nerve stimulator placement, corpus callosotomy and hemispherectomy.

Patients with challenging seizure disorders can be monitored in Johns Hopkins’ specialized Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). This inpatient unit is staffed with specially trained medical and nursing staff and technologists who carefully watch each patient’s seizure activity during their stay. The EMU’s computer-based monitoring equipment is specially designed to evaluate seizure disorders and can help your child’s doctors recommend the best treatment.

Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Specialists

At Johns Hopkins, your child will benefit from the combined insights of neurosurgeons, epilepsy specialists, occupational therapists and others, who review your child’s unique needs and develop an individualized treatment plan.