Epilepsy Center

The Epilepsy Center at Texas Children’s Hospital is the premier destination for children suffering from epilepsy and seizure disorders.

Recognized as a Level 4 epilepsy center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC), our center houses unmatched medical expertise, the most cutting-edge imaging and diagnostic technologies and innovative research. Level 4 epilepsy centers have the professional expertise and facilities to provide the highest level medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.

The center’s world-renowned multidisciplinary team includes pediatric epileptologists, neurophysiologist, neurosurgeons, specialized nurse practitioners and physician assistants, neuropsychologists, neuropathologists, dietitians and social workers.

Leaders in Pediatric Neuroscience

The experts at the Epilepsy Center at Texas Children’s Hospital are committed to creating a healthier future for children with epilepsy. Our expertise includes:

• Medicine and research: At the Epilepsy Center, our clinicians develop an individualized plan of care for every patient, catering to his or her specific diagnosis, and providing the best opportunity for every child to thrive. Comprehensive treatment options include current as well as investigational medications. Texas Children’s Hospital is also home to the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute and the Gordon and Mary Cain Pediatric Neurology Research Foundation. The scientists at these research institutes are conducting some of the most cutting-edge neurological research in the world. Learn more about the research breakthroughs made by our physicians and researchers on various epileptic conditions.
   
• Surgical: We have one of the most active pediatric epilepsy surgery programs, drawing patients from across the United States and abroad for surgical care. The team at Texas Children’s Hospital revolutionized the surgical standard for epilepsy with the development of minimally invasive laser ablation surgery in 2010. This surgery destroys lesions that cause seizures, and Texas Children’s continues to be the international destination for patients seeking minimally invasive surgery options. We offer the most cutting-edge surgical approaches, including robot-assisted, stereo, EEG, grid placement, brain mapping and endoscopic callosotomy and hemispherotomy.
   
• Diet therapies: The ketogenic diet is a high fat, low carbohydrate, controlled protein diet that, in partnership with medication, has proven beneficial for children with epilepsy. Clinicians work with families to develop personalized diet programs for each patient to minimize seizure occurrence. 
   
• Nerve stimulations: Vagus nerve stimulation therapy can prevent seizures by sending regular, mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain through the vagus nerve. By implanting a small device under the skin, controlled pulses are able to be sent to the brain stem through a small wire connecting the two.
   
• Diagnostics: The Epilepsy Center is equipped with the latest cutting-edge imaging machines and techniques including MEG, MRI, fMRI, MRS, SPECT, PET, BESA, TMS, WADA, intracranial EEG monitoring, grid, strip and depth electrode placement, robot-assisted SEEG.
   
• Epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU): The Epilepsy Center houses a 12-bed monitoring unit designed to monitor patients experiencing seizures over a two to seven day period. Patients in the EMU are monitored by a team of technologists 24 hours a day through the use of electroencephalograms with video. As every patient is different, the goal of the medical team within the EMU is to evaluate and study a child's seizures in order to formulate the best possible care plan for each individual patient. Our team of caring, highly trained clinicians help patients and their families personalize their experience, while making kids feel safe and comfortable during their stay.

Our Promise

We are dedicated to providing a seamless, efficient and effective experience for patients and their families. Our specialized nurse coordinators work with new patient families to make the most of every minute spent in the hospital by planning all the necessary diagnostics, imaging and consults within just a few days. What can take months at other institutions can typically be accomplished in a matter of days at Texas Children’s Hospital. 

In addition, we also promise a comprehensive and careful evaluation for patients by engaging our world-renown specialists to carefully review, consider and deliberate each patient’s diagnosis and plan of care.

• Multidisciplinary epilepsy conference: Once a week every member of our extensive medical care team comes together to discuss current patients, progress and determine treatment and surgical plans. This weekly conference serves as an invaluable opportunity for the entire care team to work collaboratively to develop comprehensive treatment plans for each patient and consider the perspective from each specialist involved in the patient’s care.
   
• Multidisciplinary consult planning: We are asked to consult on many patients from outside our institution, and we have a weekly meeting to review each child’s medical records and imaging studies to determine to most appropriate evaluation and treatment.