It could be a major breakthrough for thousands of people who suffer with certain forms of Epilepsy.
Six-year-old Caleb and 4-year-old Simeon are "all boy." They love cars and trains. But taking care of his boys was difficult for their dad - even dangerous - when Victor Vanderhoof suffered unpredictable seizures.
"Basically, I would black out, and I wouldn't really know what was going on," Vanderhoof said.
Medications didn't help. He even had a seizure while driving with his older son in the car. The last thing he remembers was pulling off the interstate. "I jumped the ditch, going through the retaining wall."
No one was hurt, but Vanderhoof was torn apart inside. "I remember saying to God one day, just said, 'Hey, I can't deal with this anymore. I'm going to give you an option: either you take my life or you fix this problem."
Then he found Dr. Joseph Neimat at Vanderbilt University, who told him about a less-invasive type of surgery. "With the surgery, about 70 percent of patients will be seizure-free or nearly seizure-free," Neimat said.
A team of doctors performed extensive scans and tests on victor's brain and found his seizures were located in the hippocampus. They then surgically removed a small piece of tissue in that area.
Vanderhoof went from having three seizures a week to having none. He's been seizure-free for three years, with no meds. His wife even sent his doctor a letter, writing "Epilepsy stole all quality of life from Vic and, eventually, our entire family" and "this surgery changed this."
"For a surgeon, these are the best cases. It just makes such a difference in these patients' lives," Neimat said.
The best part for victor? "Just not being afraid that something's going to happen."
Now he can drive, and more importantly, be a dad without his health holding him back.
Dr. Neimat says this surgery is not an option for patients if doctors cannot pinpoint the area of the brain that is causing the seizure. Traditional surgery required a bigger incision, and surgeons removed a larger piece of tissue. Doctors have had the same success with this less-invasive surgery, and patients recover more quickly.
Background: epilepsy is a disorder that causes recurring seizures. seizure symptoms can vary. some patients with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while other patients have full-fledged convulsions. about one in 100 people in the united states will experience an unprovoked seizure in their lifetime. however, having one seizure does not mean someone has epilepsy. at least two unprovoked seizures are mandatory for a diagnosis of epilepsy. many children with epilepsy outgrow the condition. (source: mayo clinic)
Causes: in about half of patients who have epilepsy, there is no known cause for the condition. some types of epilepsy run in families, making it likely that there is a genetic influence. other possible risk factors include head trauma; medical events like strokes or heart attacks that can damage the brain; dementia; diseases like meningitis, aids and viral encephalitis; prenatal injury; and developmental disorders such as autism and down syndrome. (source: mayo clinic)
Treatment: even mild seizures may require treatment because they can be dangerous during activities like driving. treatment typically starts with medications because most patients with epilepsy can become seizure-free with a single anti-epileptic drug. many patients can discontinue medication after two or more years without suffering seizures. another therapy, known as vagus nerve stimulation, involves implanting a stimulator underneath the skin of the chest. wires from the stimulator are wrapped around the vagus nerve in the patient's neck. the battery-powered device delivers short bursts of electrical energy to the brain through the vagus nerve. the device can reduce seizures by up to 40 percent. some children with epilepsy have been able to reduce their seizures by following a diet that is high in fats and low in carbohydrates. this is known as the ketogenic diet. surgery is also an option when tests show that seizures originate in a small, well-defined area of the brain that doesn't interfere with function like speech, language or hearing. in these types of surgeries, doctors remove the area of the brain that is causing the seizures. (source: mayo clinic)
An easier surgery: now, doctors are performing surgery in a minimally-invasive way. first, a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, neuro-psychologists and neurosurgeons review extensive data on patients and determine if they are good candidates for the procedure. they then surgically remove a small piece of tissue in the area of the brain where the seizures are located. traditional surgery, known as a full temporal lobectomy, requires a larger incision and removal of a larger piece of tissue. with the less-invasive surgery, patients have a quicker recovery. doctors also say they have observed the same success with this less-invasive approach. (source: Vanderbilt University Medical Center)
For more information:
Craig Boerner, national news director
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN
craig.boerner@vanderbilt.edu
