Stanford Intractable Epilepsy Program
The Stanford Intractable Epilepsy Program offers innovative treatment options, including surgery and devices, for individuals with intractable epilepsy.
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
Designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers with its highest distinction level as a level 4 center, the Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Program is ranked among the top comprehensive centers in the nation.
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
Our Doctors
Care and Treatment of Epilepsy
Intractable Epilepsy Program
The Intractable Epilepsy Program at Stanford offers innovative treatment options, including surgery and devices, for individuals with intractable epilepsy that cannot be controlled by medications. Some of these treatments offer greater precision than ever in targeting the seizure source, are only performed by the Stanford team and not available elsewhere in the world for individuals with intractable epilepsy.
Our multispecialty team of intractable epilepsy experts includes specialists in clinical epileptology, epilepsy nursing, epilepsy surgery, neuropsychology and neuroradiology. The team works together to conduct comprehensive evaluations to determine the right customized surgical plan for appropriate patients with intractable epilepsy.
Case reviews are conducted after your evaluation and regularly throughout the course of treatment by the team and information is provided to referring physicians.
Intractable epilepsy evaluations provide:
- Comprehensive video-EEG monitoring
- High-resolution structural MRI (3-Tesla and 7-Tesla)
- High-resolution fMRI EEG with 256 electrodes
- Functional brain mapping using fMRI and electrical brain stimulation
Intractable epilepsy treatment goals include:
- Localizing the seizure focus in the brain
- Revising/stabilizing the medication regimen
- Offering surgical removal of the source of seizures, if needed
- Providing surgical devices that are either on the market or being offered via clinical trials
Surgery candidates with intractable epilepsy
After evaluation, the lead doctor on your care team will share the findings with the rest of the epilepsy team in a weekly conference. A decision will be made by the group regarding whether you are a candidate for epilepsy surgery based on the following criteria:
- The evidence about the origin of your seizures is overwhelming and there is no doubt that you will tolerate the epilepsy surgery. You will then be referred to a surgeon without needing any additional diagnostic procedures.
- The evidence about the origin of your seizures is strong but the location of the seizures needs to be verified. You will then be referred to a surgeon for inpatient intracranial video-EEG monitoring.
- Surgery to remove the epileptic tissue is not safe for you. However, the team may consider a device, such as a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) or an investigational device through a clinical trial.
Make an Appointment
To request an appointment, call 650-723-6469.