Laser Ablation Surgery for Epilepsy

Texas Children's Hospital is the first hospital in the world to use real-time MRI-guided thermal imaging and laser technology to destroy lesions in the brain that cause epilepsy and uncontrollable seizures.

According to hospital experts, this new surgical approach offers a safer and significantly less invasive alternative to craniotomy, currently the most commonly used cranial surgical treatment for epilepsy. For high-risk patients with deep brain lesions, this new technique can be particularly life-changing because the MRI-guided laser probe utilizes a much smaller pathway through the brain to reach a deep lesion. This reduces the risk of patient complications related to contact with surrounding brain tissue. In addition, the MRI-guided laser probe is inserted through a hole in the skull that is only 3.2 mm (about the diameter of a pen) versus the removal of a larger area of skull bone for a craniotomy. Because it is a less invasive procedure, patient recovery time is much shorter. 

Luke’s story

At three weeks old, Luke was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis, a rare disease that causes benign tumors to grow on the brain and other vital organs. As a result of his disease, he experienced frequent seizures that affected his development and safety. Luke was referred to Texas Children’s Neuroscience Center for laser ablation surgery. The surgery was a tremendous success and Luke is now seizure-free.

For more information or to find out if your child is a candidate for this procedure, please call 832-822-3950 or email us at epilepsysurgery@texaschildrens.org.