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Treatment Options
Medical Management
More than 60% of patients’ seizures can be well controlled and managed with antiepileptic medications. Hoag’s specialists consider each patient’s disease and lifestyle in determining which medications to prescribe. And since many antiepileptic medications have side effects and drug interactions, Hoag specialists work closely with patients and their primary care physician to continually manage drug therapy.
Surgical Treatment
When seizures cannot be controlled with medication alone, Hoag offers the latest
techniques in surgical intervention. Surgery can eliminate seizures in the majority of patients, and reduce seizures in most of the remainder. To locate the exact location of the brain causing seizures, Hoag neurosurgeons utilize state-of-the-art neuronavigational technology and sophisticated magnetic resonance imaging techniques to precisely reach and treat the seizure areas safely.
For non-surgical candidates and for patients whose seizures are resistant to antiepileptic medications, Hoag specialists also perform vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) surgery. Implanted under the skin below the left collarbone, the VNS generator delivers intermittent nerve stimulation to the vagus nerve to effectively block seizures from occurring in a good percentage of individuals.
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