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Medical Author:

Norberto Alvarez, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• What is epilepsy?
• What are the different types of clinical seizures?
• What causes epilepsy in children?
• Are seizures bad for children?
• How is epilepsy treated?
• Who is a candidate for epilepsy surgery?
• What tests are used to determine if a child is a candidate for epilepsy surgery?
• Who performs pediatric epilepsy surgery?
• What are the types of epilepsy surgery?
• Resective epilepsy surgery
• Corpus callosotomy
• Vagus nerve stimulator (VNS)
• Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Index
• Find a local Pediatric Surgeon in your town

Pediatric Epileptic Surgery At A Glance

• Pediatric epilepsy surgery can be used to treat a highly selected group of patients whose seizures are not controllable by standard means.
  
  
• The appropriate candidate for epilepsy surgery must meet several criteria.
  
  
• There are currently three major categories of epilepsy surgery: resective surgery, corpus callosotomy, and implantation of the vagus nerve stimulator.
  
  
• 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.

Previous contributing medical author: Harley I. Kornblum, MD, PhD