Department of Neurosurgery

Patients who suffer from epilepsy are vulnerable in many aspects, amongst others by injuries due to seizures. At the same time, they are often considerably socially restricted. Many forms of epilepsy are resistant to medication, that means not treatable with medication, and lead especially in infants to retardation in brain development. Therefore, the diagnostics to confirm an epileptic area, and, if possible, surgical treatment to deactivate this epileptic focus should be made as early as possible.

The epilepsy center as a section of our department is equipped according to the newest standards and with all means and methods for pre-surgical diagnostics and surgical therapy.

At first, we try to locate the epileptic focus by typical neurological examinations such as routine EEG. If this non-invasive method is not successful, electrodes can be placed on the brain surface. Hereby, in general, the epileptic focus can be determined precisely.

At first, we try to locate the epileptic focus by typical neurological examinations such as routine EEG. If this non-invasive method is not successful, electrodes can be placed on the brain surface. Hereby, in general, the epileptic focus can be determined precisely.

If an exact epileptic focus within a functionally non-important area can be determined, a surgery with removal of this area will be offered. At child’s age, it’s a question of cortical dysplasia, a malformation of the brain surface or hamartia, but also tumours, or vascular malformations such us cavernomas may be epileptogenic.

In case of definite brain damage, the hemispherectomy respectively the hemispherotomy may present the most successful method. Palliative methods of surgery with the intention to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures are being offered: callosotomy, the vagal nerve stimulation as well as the multiple subpial transsections.