CSThe surgical epilepsy program at Rush specializes in the treatment of the less than 30 percent of epilepsy patients whose seizures and related symptoms cannot be adequately controlled with medication. Using the latest imaging techniques available, neurosurgeons at Rush are known for their ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat epilepsy. In fact, surgeons at Rush perform more surgical procedures to treat epilepsy than any other program in the Chicago area, and is one of the leading centers in the entire Midwest.

Patients are considered for surgery only after medical management has been tried for a reasonable period of time by a qualified neurologist and has proven to be ineffective in controlling seizures. Surgery is also available if a patient’s seizures are the result of a brain tumor. Surgical procedures performed:

• Antero-medial temporal lobectomy with amygdalo-hippocampectomy
• Extra-temporal resection
• Hemispherectomy
• Multiple subpial transection
• Brain tumor resection
• Awake craniotomy
• Vagal nerve stimulation
• Neurostimulator implant (clinical trial)
• Deep brain stimulation in anterior nucleus of the thalamus (clinical trial)

The epilepsy surgery program at Rush offers a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach. The highly experienced team includes neurosurgeons, epileptologists, neuropsychologists and dedicated nurses, as well as speech and physical therapists.