The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has been accredited with the highest designation available from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers.
The Level 4 accreditation means that UAMS is capable of performing the most complex surgeries for the treatment of epilepsy. The accreditation is valid through December of 2019. The nearest adult Level 4 epilepsy programs are in Jackson, Miss., and in Dallas.
UAMS has hired fellowship-trained neurosurgeon Viktoras Palys, MD, who is capable of performing complex epilepsy surgeries including placing temporary recording electrodes on the surface of the brain or implanting them within the brain tissue. The center offers a broad range of surgical procedures for epilepsy.
In addition to the spectrum of brain surgeries, it offers MRI-guided laser ablation for the diseased brain tissue along with placement of responsive brain stimulation (RNS, Neuropace) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) devices. For the minimally invasive diagnostic and/or treatment procedures, the robotic stereotactic assistance (ROSA) is available to supplement the traditional surgical navigation tools.
Palys joins epileptologists Bashir Sami Shihabuddin, MD, and Ikram Khan, MD, as well as a multidisciplinary team dedicated to the treatment of epilepsy, including neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists, pharmacists, and social workers.
Shihabuddin, medical director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and a professor in the Department of Neurology in the UAMS College of Medicine, said that in addition to highlighting programs with advanced surgical capabilities, the Level 4 designation signals a dedication to a team approach and comprehensive care.
“Many patients with epilepsy will not need these advanced surgeries, but they benefit from being treated at a comprehensive epilepsy center, where we can offer patients the whole scope of treatments available, backed up by the technology and expertise necessary,” Shihabuddin said.
Epilepsy can be difficult to diagnose and complex to manage. Shihabuddin said about 30 percent of patients referred to the center for treatment actually turn out to be non-epileptic. For many others, accurate diagnosis of a specific epilepsy syndrome might lead to changes to anti-seizure medications that can result in vast improvements.
The center can provide minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of epilepsy, such as implanting stimulation devices like responsive neurostimulators or vagus nerve stimulators. The center also offers Video-EEG monitoring technology, neuropsychological assessment, MRI scans, PET scans, and Ictal SPECT scans that are tailored specifically for epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a common and serious neurological condition that is characterized by repeated unprovoked seizures. Seizures are caused by abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain. They cause spells of altered behavior, consciousness, emotions, or sensations. They might be mild with brief experiences like changes in vision, unusual tastes or smells, tingling, or a sense of déjà vu. They can also be severe, such as convulsive seizures with violent muscle stiffening and contractions.
There are several types of epileptic seizures and epilepsy disorders. Epilepsy can result from multiple causes, such as head trauma, abnormalities in brain structure, and genetic predisposition. In many cases, the cause of seizures remains unknown.
Early treatment is important. The National Association of Epilepsy Centers recommends that patients whose seizures are not under control after three months of treatment by a primary care physician should seek treatment from a neurologist. Patients who have been seeing a general neurologist and are still experiencing seizures after 12 months should request a referral to an epilepsy center with an epileptologist.
Palys received his medical degree from Kaunas Medical University in Lithuania, followed by general surgery residency training at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in Kaunas. He completed his general surgery internship at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Metropolitan Group Hospitals, and his neurosurgery residency training at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virg. He also obtained additional functional and stereotactic neurosurgery training at a Virginia Commonwealth University fellowship directed by Kathryn L. Holloway, MD.