Leading Epilepsy Diagnosis & Treatment in the Southwest
The Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at the Mischer Neuroscience Institute is the leading program in the southwestern United States for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy in patients of all ages.
We draw upon the combined expertise of board-certified neurologists and neurosurgeons with subspecialty training and experience in treating patients with seizures and epilepsy.
Epilepsy Diagnosis
Our mission is to help epilepsy patients gain control of their seizures and regain their desired quality of life by applying the most comprehensive diagnostic and treatment methods available.
Causes of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is not the same in everyone. Some of the reasons patients develop epilepsy still defy medical explanation, but the onset of epilepsy may be associated with a number of known causes.
Genetics, brain trauma, structural abnormalities, stroke and brain tumor rank among the top underlying causes. Determining why a patient may have developed the condition is crucial to planning the most effective treatment.
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
At the heart of our program is a state-of-the-art Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) - the largest and most comprehensive unit of its kind in the region. Patients are referred to the EMU for one of three reasons:
- They have seizures whose cause is still unknown
- They have medically uncontrolled seizures
- They are being evaluated for surgery
Patients typically are admitted on an inpatient basis and stay with us for an average of five to seven days - sometimes longer for those with medically uncontrolled seizures or patients undergoing evaluation for surgical treatment. During their stay, patients are monitored 24/7 for even the smallest sign of seizure activity. As one of the only inpatient units in the country with a comprehensive set of diagnostic technologies, we constantly gather and record data to help define and locate seizure activity within the brain.
Diagnosing Epilepsy
The Mischer Neuroscience Institute is a national leader in combining the use of MEG and functional MRI to fully map the brain and brain activity. We also remain the only center in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma to offer this service since bringing the first MEG imager to Houston in 1997.
Each year the EMU performs more than 150 completely noninvasive, pain-free MEG procedures on pediatric and adult patients, without the need for anesthetic or exposure to hazardous materials. And with shortened measurement preparation and collection times, a path of treatment may be determined as quickly and safely as possible - ensuring our patients get the treatment they need, when they need it.
Our full suite of diagnostic tools for epilepsy includes:
- MEG (magnetoencephalography)
- Video EEG (electroencephalography)
- 3-Tesla Structural MRI
- Functional MRI and Tractography
- PET and SPECT
Memory and Speech (WADA) Testing
The WADA test is performed on patients being considered for surgery. It is used to identify the language and memory functions of the left and right brain.
Neuropsychological Testing
Neuropsychological testing is used to determine if seizures have changed areas of brain function such as memory, language, math skills or personality.