Epilepsy is a family of disorders that cause spontaneous, unpredictable seizures. The UC Irvine Medical Center Comprehensive Epilepsy Program is the only university-based program in Orange County serving patients who experience such seizures. Our mission is to provide individualized care through comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services to control seizures and to help patients enjoy the highest quality of life possible. 

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Recognized for Excellence

We have been designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a level 4 epilepsy center, the highest ranking given.  This designation recognizes our program’s state-of-the-art neurodiagnostic monitoring technologies and extensive range of medical, surgical, neuropsychological and psychosocial treatment options.

Diagnostic Testing

Our Epilepsy Program provides a variety of diagnostic services for epilepsy. These tests help physicians decide whether anticonvulsant drugs can be used to control seizures, or whether surgery is an option.

Patients referred for consultation receive a complete neurologic examination. Tests may include:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG) to test the brain’s electrical function
• Magnetic resonance imaging  (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) scans to detect any underlying causes
• Single-photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) to assess blood flow in the brain
• Wada test to map brain function

If further evaluation is warranted, the following tests may be indicated:

• Continuous video-EEG (brain wave) monitoring to identify critical brain areas prior to surgery
• Intracranial electrode monitoring to map the seizure's focus
• Neuropsychologic testing to predict results after surgery

Team Approach

Once a diagnosis is complete, our specialists analyze the results along with the patient’s clinical history. An assessment is made regarding the best treatment options. This process draws on the skills of neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists, EEG technologists, and clinical nursing specialists. Regularly scheduled multidisciplinary conferences ensure that each patient’s case is given comprehensive, expert medical and surgical review.

Treatment

Up to 70 percent of people with epilepsy respond to treatment with anti-epileptic drugs.  Sometimes, a series of several different drugs may be tested over a period of time to find the one that works best and has the least amount of side effects. Combinations of drugs may be tested as well.

For those who require other options, the UC Irvine Comprehensive Epilepsy Program offers every type of surgery for epilepsy, including advanced procedures not widely available. Surgical treatments are usually preceded by more detailed testing to pinpoint the area of the brain that generates seizures, as well as regions with important cognitive, motor and sensory functions.

Once the area is identified, state-of-the-art surgical techniques are used to remove or disconnect the part of the brain that is the focus of the seizure.

Implanting a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) is another option for controlling seizures in patients who have not been helped by drugs.  With VNS, a small stimulator device is placed beneath the skin.  The device emits an electrical signal that stimulates the vagus nerve and disrupts brain activity, effectively controlling seizures. The majority of patients receiving VNS are seizure-free after the procedure.

EpiCenter

Our Epilepsy Program draws on the resources of the Epilepsy Research Center (EpiCenter), a university facility at UC Irvine Medical Center that unites scientists and board-certified physicians.

The EpiCenter is recognized as one of the world’s premier epilepsy-focused research facilities due to its robust program of basic, translational and clinical research studies.  Patients who are qualified to participate in clinical trials may be able to access new treatments long before they are generally available.

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