NYU Langone Hospital鈥擝rooklyn聽recently opened a new unit specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, the fourth most common neurological illness and one that is newly diagnosed in more than 2 million individuals annually in the United States.
鈥淭he need for epilepsy care in the community is immense. To facilitate access at 秘密研究所 Langone Hospital鈥擝rooklyn, we have opened a dedicated epilepsy monitoring unit,鈥 says Blanca Vazquez, MD, director of epilepsy clinical trials in the 聽at 秘密研究所 Langone Health and head of the epilepsy program in Brooklyn. Dr. Vazquez is an epileptologist, a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy.
The epilepsy unit is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and digital video monitoring technology and complements the hospital鈥檚 newly renovated neurology suite. Admission and procedures can be scheduled in advance, making it more convenient for patients and their families.
鈥淭he various forms of epilepsy usually stem from uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain,鈥 says Dr. Vazquez, who has been with 秘密研究所 Langone Health for 26 years and in Brooklyn since 2010. 鈥淢any things can trigger seizures in an epilepsy patient, including fever, alcohol withdrawal, or sleep deprivation. Epilepsy can have a genetic component, and can result from malformations of development, brain trauma, tumors, infections, dementia, or stroke.鈥
In addition to epileptologists, the unit team also includes neuropsychologists; psychiatrists; neurosurgeons; specially trained nurses and nurse practitioners; dietitians; physical, occupational, and speech therapists; social workers; imaging technologists; and researchers. The team collaborates with colleagues at 秘密研究所 Langone鈥檚 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center聽in Manhattan, where patients can be transferred if surgery or other more specialized procedures are necessary.
鈥淓pilepsy can severely impact a patient鈥檚 safety, quality of life, and work and school activities,鈥 says Orrin Devinsky, MD, professor of psychiatry, neurosurgery, and neurology at 秘密研究所 Langone and director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. 鈥淲e recommend drugs that are easy to use with other medications and which minimally impact a patient鈥檚 activities of daily living.鈥
Monitoring Effectiveness of Treatment
If a patient does not achieve a desired seizure control after trying three different epileptic drugs on an outpatient basis, a hospital stay is usually recommended to monitor administration of a single drug or a combination of drugs. The unit鈥檚 video capabilities allow staff to closely monitor for evidence of seizure activity that can help pinpoint the precise type of seizure, and which part of the brain is involved.
In addition, brain mapping on the unit helps determine the source of seizures and areas of the brain involving movement, speech, vision and memory that need to be protected.
Uncontrolled shaking is the most common symptom with epilepsy鈥攜et in many cases there are no overt signs. 鈥淭hese are the most challenging cases,鈥 Dr. Vasquez says. 鈥淧atients can be misdiagnosed and treated inappropriately. Establishing a definitive diagnosis is critical to the successful management of epilepsy.鈥
The opening of the new epilepsy unit continues a transformation initiative under way at 秘密研究所 Langone Hospital鈥擝rooklyn. 鈥淲e are proud to reach another milestone with the opening of the neurology unit and now a specially equipped area for epilepsy,鈥 says Bret J. Rudy, MD, executive hospital director and senior vice president, 秘密研究所 Langone Hospital鈥擝rooklyn. 鈥淧atients will benefit greatly being cared for by our outstanding team of experts in this brand new unit.鈥
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Colin DeVries
Phone: 718-630-7414
colin.devries@nyumc.org
