Nicklaus Children's Neuroscience Institute is an world-renowned leader in caring for children and infants with epilepsy, welcoming patients from all over the world to visit our Epilepsy Comprehensive Care Center. The South Florida-based program offers the latest medical and surgical interventions to help children with epileptic seizures, including offerings that are available at only a handful of centers worldwide.
For children whose seizures cannot be controlled medically, the program is a world leader in performing pediatric epilepsy surgery. In fact, leaders who provide care at pediatric epilepsy centers around the world have received training right here at Nicklaus Children's Hospital. Our team has pioneered innovative, minimally invasive surgical methods for children including MRI-guided laser ablation surgery and focused ultrasound.
The Epilepsy Comprehensive Care Center is centered around a team approach to care, in which clinicians from many different specialties come together to review patient information and plan the optimal treatment for each individual child. Epilepsy Comprehensive Care Center nurses and physicians provide compassionate and supportive care to support the needs of families of children confronting the challenges that come with recurrent seizures.
Choose a Global Leader for Treating Epilepsy in Children
The Epilepsy Comprehensive Care Center:
- Has offered new and investigational medicines to treat epilepsy for more than 30 years. Patients of the center can access medications that are not universally available to address individual care needs.
- Was the first center in the world to directly map the brains of infants and children as a first step toward successful pediatric brain surgery.
- Was among the first to offer surgical therapy for epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis and treat rare ion channel disturbances.
- Is one of a handful of centers able to evaluate and surgically treat epilepsy in children with normal MRI scans. This group presents the greatest challenge for surgical planning.
- Has pioneered minimally invasive techniques for pediatric epilepsy surgery, including laser technology to remove brain tissue that is causing seizures, and focused ultrasound to ablate epileptic tissue without the need to open the skull.
An Advanced Multidisciplinary Care Team
The Epilepsy Comprehensive Care Center brings together a highly experienced multidisciplinary care team that works collaboratively to provide exceptional family-centered care to those we serve. The team includes:
- Child neurologists specializing in epilepsy
- Neurosurgeons with extensive experienced treating medically resistant epilepsy
- Neurophysiologists
- Neuropsychologists
- Neuro-intensivists
- Neuro-imaging specialists
- Geneticists
- Specialized nurse practitioners
- Pediatric EEG technicians
- Nurse navigators who are available 24/7 to support patients and their families
Conditions We Treat
State-of-the-Art Technology for Pediatric Epilepsy Care & Treatment
State-of-the-Art Technology for Pediatric Epilepsy Care & Treatment
Treating epilepsy can be challenging as each child responds differently to treatment. Our team has the experience to help your family obtain the best treatment for epileptic seizures in your child.
We partner with Florida International University's (FIU) neuro-engineering program to develop avenues for advanced epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. This collaboration includes members of the Epilepsy team at Nicklaus Children's Hospital and basic scientists at FIU. This winning formula provides a mechanism to explore projects leading to innovative care.
Techniques employed by Neuroscience Institute personnel include:
Excellent Surgical Outcomes
When surgical treatment is indicated for children and infants with medically resistant epilepsy (seizures that cannot be curbed by prescription medications), the Epilepsy Comprehensive Care Center stands out as the center where more than 1,600 surgeries for children with epilepsy have been performed since 1984. Even ten years after surgery, 67 percent of our patients remain seizure-free or almost seizure-free.
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A Care Environment Second to None
Dedicated Neurology/Neurosurgery Unit: This 40-bed, state-of-the-art inpatient unit provides care for children with neurological needs requiring hospitalization. These may include patients with brain or neurological injuries, those recovering after brain surgery or children undergoing video EEG to record brainwave activity along with physical manifestations of seizures. The unit offers a welcoming environment for patient families, including accommodations for parents/caregivers at the bedside.
The Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower: This new 131,000-square-foot, five-story facility has transformed pediatric surgical care in South Florida. It features 12 advanced operating suites, 40 pre- and post-operative recovery bays, and 18 inpatient rooms designed with the needs of children and families in mind.
Patient Navigators Support Families Throughout the Care Journey
Epilepsy Comprehensive Care Center patient navigators become essential resources for patient families. These experienced epilepsy care nurses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure patient needs are met and address questions and concerns. To contact the nurse navigator, please call 786-624-4714 or email EpilepsyProgram@nicklaushealth.org.