The VA West Los Angeles Epilepsy Center of Excellence (ECOE) recently successfully completed a surgery that involved implanting a device to detect and stop seizures.
Although the device and the treatment are FDA-approved and have been used at major university centers across the United States, this was the first such case within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
The device can “sense” seizure activity, thereby triggering an electrical signal to abort the seizure.
There is a sensing component in the device that also provides a report of quantity of seizures per month and the time of day when they occur.
Acting Chief of Neurosurgery at the West LA VA Jean-Philippe Langevin said, “We are excited to offer this novel technology to our Veterans suffering from treatment-refractory epilepsy.
“This condition affects quality of life and carries a significant risk of death. This new device works like a compact implantable computer that detects seizures and aborts them by emitting an electrical signal.” Dr. James Chen, Director, VAGLAHS Epilepsy Center of Excellence said, “The ongoing monitoring and detection of seizures permit us as clinicians to adjust medication and follow the effects of those adjustments in real time based on clinically accurate information.”
For more information visit: www.epilepsy.va.gov.
