Epilepsy

Description

The Western University - Epilepsy Program is widely recognized for its highly qualified team of professionals consisting of neurologists, neurosurgeons, nurses, psychologists, EEG technologists neuropathologists, neuroradiologists and neurophysiologists dedicated to the management of epilepsy, particularly epilepsy surgery.

Its centrepiece is the 11-bed, in-patient Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, the largest in Canada. Devoted primarily to investigation of patients for possible epilepsy surgery, the Epilepsy Unit is also used to aid diagnosis of epilepsy and other related conditions, and to evaluate patients for other types of treatment, including trials of antiepileptic medications.

In addition to patient care, the department supports world-class research and teaching. More than 30 neurologists and neurosurgeons have come from numerous countries to learn about the complex epilepsies in our program. While the majority of patients treated in the Epilepsy Unit are from Ontario, patients from other Canadian provinces and as far away as Holland, Mexico, Spain and Australia have come to London as a result of its specialized expertise.

Facilities:

  • Canada's largest observational epilepsy monitoring unit with 11 beds
  • Renshaw Neurosurgical Robot

Training Opportunities

Residents

Neurology residents will complete a rotation in epilepsy and electroencephalography (EEG). During this rotation residents will learn how to:

  • Describe the basic principles of EEG recording, and discuss the indications for and limitations of EEG as a diagnostic tool
  • Obtain complete histories from patients with epilepsy, recognizing the importance of collateral history
  • Perform appropriate and efficient physical examinations on patients presenting with seizures
  • Correlate clinical features with EEG findings in patients with epilepsy
  • Recognize the EEG features that are characteristic of common epilepsy syndromes
  • Identify indications for surgical management of epilepsy, and describe an approach to the workup of potential surgical candidates
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the medical management of epilepsy, including principles of anticonvulsant us, choice of drug, recognition of drug pharmacology and side effects, principles of monitoring anticonvulsant treatment

During Academic Half-days, neurology residents will study the following topics related to epilepsy:

Core Topics

  • Childhood epilepsies
  • Approach to new-onset seizures in an adult
  • Medical treatment of epilepsy:
    • Rational pharmacotherapy
    • AED pharmacology
  • Surgical treatment of epilepsy
  • Status epilepticus

Special Topics

  • EEG: Basic concepts
  • Basic mechanisms underlying epilepsy and treatment, including the action potential, ion channels, neurotransmitters and epileptogenesis
  • Epilepsy and driving

Neurosurgery residents will learn the following skills during their residency:

  • subdural electrode insertion
  • halo ring/vest application

Learn more about CNS Residency programs.

Epilepsy/EEG Fellowship

Main Contact: Michelle-Lee Jones - MDCM, FRCPC, CSCN diplomate EEG

Phone: 519-685-8500 x33630
Fax: 519-663-3498
London Health Sciences Centre
University Hospital
339 Windermere Road
London Ontario Canada
N6A 5A5

Fellowship Application Process.

Post-graduate, Graduate, Undergraduate

Dr. Jorge Burneo has a cross-appointment with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and co-supervises Masters students, sits in committee thesises of MSc and PhD candidates within the Department of Neurosciences at Western. Dr. Seyed Mirsattari, has supervised and mentored MSc and PhD student within the Department of Neurosciences on topics including the localization of epileptogenic zones using high frequency oscillationsa (HFOs) in people with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Dr. Sandrine de Ribaupierre has acted as a supervisor and co-supervisor to undergraduate, masters, and postdoctoral students on research projects looking at the visualization of medical imaging, paediatric epilepsy surgery, and  neuromonitoring of premature infants with post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Research Opportunities

Recent Epilepsy Publications

Duque KR, Burneo JG. Clinical presentation of neurocysticercosis-related epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2017 Sep 4. pii: S1525-5050(17)30545-0. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.08.008. [Epub ahead of print] Review. PubMed PMID: 28882721.

Burneo JG. Neurocysticercosis-related epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2017 Aug 31. pii: S1525-5050(17)30666-2. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.08.017. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28867576.

Wang JZ, Vyas MV, Saposnik G, Burneo JG. Incidence and management of seizures after ischemic stroke: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurology. 2017 Aug 23. pii: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004407. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004407. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28835405.

Massot-Tarrús A, Steven DA, McLachlan RS, Mirsattari SM, Diosy D, Parrent AG, Blume WT, Girvin JP, Burneo JG. Outcome of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery evaluated with bitemporal intracranial electrode recordings. Epilepsy Res. 2016 Nov;127:324-330. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2016.08.008. Epub 2016 Aug 11. PubMed PMID: 27697718.

Massot-Tarrús A, Mousavi SR, Dove C, Hayman-Abello S S, Hayman-Abello B, Derry PA, Diosy DC, McLachlan RS, Burneo JG, Steven DA, Mirsattari SM. Coprolalia as a manifestation of epileptic seizures. Epilepsy Behav. 2016 Jul;60:99-106. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.04.040. Epub 2016 May 16. PubMed PMID: 27195785.

Faculty

Neurologists

Neurosurgeons