Barriers to Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery and Solutions
This study looked at the reasons why children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) often experience delays in getting surgery that could help them.
Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
This hub covers drug-resistant epilepsy: When seizures aren’t controlled after trying two appropriate medicines. Research-backed next steps on diet therapies, devices, surgery evaluation, and safety.
What you’ll find in this topic:
- Plain-language summaries of new epilepsy studies
- What the research means for real life
- Practical questions to ask your neurologist
- Related topics you can explore next
Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: What Families Usually Want to Know
- What “drug-resistant” means (and what it doesn’t)
- When to ask for an epilepsy center referral
- Treatment options beyond meds (diet, devices, surgery)
- How to think about risk, safety, and quality of life
Options Beyond Medication in Plain English
- Ketogenic diet / modified Atkins: Nutrition therapy that can reduce seizures
- VNS / RNS / DBS: Devices that modulate brain activity
- Surgery evaluations: Tests to see if seizures start in one removable area
- Rescue meds: Fast meds for clusters/prolonged seizures
- Sleep + triggers: Sometimes a meaningful lever (especially in teens)
Related Topics
Drug-Resistant Epilepsy FAQ
When should we consider surgery?
If seizures aren’t controlled after two meds, it’s worth at least an evaluation at an epilepsy center.
Is VNS a “last resort?”
Not necessarily. Some familiar consider it earlier depending on seizure type and goals.
Can seizures still improve later?
Yes. Treatment response can change over time, and combinations/approaches matter.
What should we track?
Seizure frequency, triggers, sleep, missed meds, side effects, and rescue med use.
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iEEG Connectivity Analysis May Improve Epilepsy Surgery Outcomes
This study looked at how well a method called intracranial electroencephalographic (iEEG) connectivity analysis can help locate the areas in the brain responsible for seizures in adults with focal drug-resistant epilepsy.
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MRI and PET Scans Help Identify Epilepsy in Children
This study looked at two brain imaging techniques, Arterial Spin Labelling MRI and [18F]FDG-PET, to see how well they can identify the area of the brain causing seizures in children with epilepsy.
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Improving Neuropsychological Testing for Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Patients
This study looked at pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) who were being evaluated for epilepsy surgery.
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Devices & Neuromodulation | Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | New Studies | Pediatrics | Status Epilepticus
New Data Standards Improve Care for Pediatric Epilepsy Patients
This study focused on developing a set of common data elements (CDEs) specifically for children with epilepsy in Korea.
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Devices & Neuromodulation | Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | Genetics | New Studies | Pediatrics
New Blood Tests May Help Diagnose Pediatric Epilepsy
This study looked at the potential of certain microRNAs as biomarkers for pediatric epilepsy, which is a common neurological disorder in children.
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Ketogenic Diet Helps Control Seizures in Child with Epilepsy
Researchers studied a young patient with a specific type of epilepsy linked to a gene called DLG3.
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Comorbidities | Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | Imaging & EEG | New Studies | Pediatrics
New Insights on Pediatric Autoimmune Encephalitis and Epilepsy
Researchers studied pediatric autoimmune encephalitis-associated epilepsy (AEAE), which is a type of epilepsy linked to problems in the immune system.
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Devices & Neuromodulation | Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | Genetics | Imaging & EEG | New Studies
Targeting Deep Brain Stimulation for Better Epilepsy Outcomes
Researchers studied deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a treatment for people with epilepsy who do not respond to medication and cannot have surgery.
