Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Techniques

Controversies and Evidence

1st Edition - July 1, 2024
Editors: Aria Fallah, George M. Ibrahim, Alexander G. Weil
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 5 9 8 1 - 0
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 5 9 8 2 - 7

Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Techniques: Controversies and Evidence offers clinicians a roadmap for navigating the complex decision-making process involved in selecting surgical… Read more

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Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Techniques: Controversies and Evidence offers clinicians a roadmap for navigating the complex decision-making process involved in selecting surgical interventions for children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Over the last decade, the landscape of pediatric epilepsy surgery has undergone substantial transformation, marked by the introduction of several emerging technologies that are now supported by an expanding body of evidence, yet leading to a wide range of treatment practices. This book addresses several decision-making dichotomies in pediatric epilepsy surgery, both in terms of established and novel surgical modalities and techniques. The book explores long-standing debated topics, such as the relative benefits of disconnective compared to resective strategies, the utility of surgical adjuncts like intra-operative electrocorticography, as well as rationales for different surgical approaches, namely selective amygdalo-hippocampectomy versus anteromesial temporal lobectomy. Further, it addresses dichotomies between traditional approaches and contemporary modalities, such as microsurgical resection versus laser interstitial thermal therapy. Chapters also offer comparisons of modern technologies, such as different neuromodulation strategies, including vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and responsive neurostimulation.

This book provides readers with the relevant scientific literature and expert commentary to inform evidence-based approaches to surgical care in pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy.

Aria Fallah

Dr. Fallah is a paediatric neurosurgeon at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. He is the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, and Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA as well as an Assistant Professor in Health Policy & Management in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.  He is also a member of the Brain Research Institute at UCLA. His clinical practice is devoted to the surgical management of children with medically intractable epilepsy.  His research mission is to establish high-quality clinical evidence to use towards the development of guidelines and decision-making tools that can standardize decisions and improve the surgical care to treat childhood medically refractory epilepsy. Dr. Fallah is the lead author of several multi-center studies focused on pediatric epilepsy surgery and serves as a professional advisory board member of the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance and a Regulatory Advisory Board Member of the Global Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Registry.

Affiliations and expertise

paediatric neurosurgeon at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. He is the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, and Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA as well as an Assistant Professor in Health Policy & Management in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

George M. Ibrahim

Dr. George Ibrahim is the Abe Bresver Chair in Functional Neurosurgery at the Hospital for Sick Children and Associate Professor in Surgery, Biomedical Engineering and Medical Science at the University of Toronto. He is a Scientist in the Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute. He is the Surgical Director of the pediatric DBS program.

Affiliations and expertise

Paediatric Neurosurgeon, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids); Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Medical Sciences; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Canada

Alexander G. Weil

Dr. Weil is a paediatric neurosurgeon at Sainte-Justine University Hospital and an Assistant Professor in both the Department of Surgery and Neuroscience at the University of Montreal. He is also a Surgeon-Scientist in the Brain and Child Development Axis at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Institute. He leads a robust pediatric epilepsy surgery program at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital where he provides surgical treatment of medically intractable epilepsy in children. His clinical and research interests focus on reducing morbidity associated with pediatric epilepsy surgery through novel surgical approaches and evidence-based medicine. Dr. Weil is the co-principal investigator of several ongoing multi-center studies focused on comparing surgical approaches in pediatric epilepsy surgery.

Affiliations and expertise

Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Sainte-Justine University Hospital; Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Canada