Epilepsy
More than 3 million people in the U.S. have some form of epilepsy. About
200,000 new cases of seizure disorders and epilepsy are diagnosed each
year. Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting
a variety of mental and physical functions. It’s also called a seizure
disorder. When a person has two or more seizures, he/she are considered
to have epilepsy.
Neurologists utilize a variety of techniques to diagnose epilepsy. Your
primary care physician can request a comprehensive neurological evaluation
by contacting the Neurodiagnostic Center at Winchester Medical Center
at 540-536-8287.
Learn more about the
Epilepsy Foundation.
Virginia Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
The Virginia Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Winchester Medical Center
is a collaboration between WMC and two Winchester, Virginia based physician
practices, Winchester Neurological Consultants, Inc., and Virginia Brain
and Spine Center, Inc.
The founders of the program, epileptologist Paul Lyons, MD (Winchester
Neurological Consultants, Inc) and neurosurgeon Lee Selznick, MD (Virginia
Brain and Spine Center, Inc) envisioned integrated services for the treatment
of epilepsy and pursued a cohesive, comprehensive program. Winchester
Medical Center, where both physicians have privileges, provides the necessary
neurodiagnostics and surgical facilities to complete the program. A licensed
dietitian is also available, who works in conjunction with the physicians
and appropriate patients, offering a ketogenic dietary regimen or other
diets shown to be useful in controlling symptoms of Epilepsy.
Offering the most comprehensive services for epilepsy evaluation and treatment,
the program has the highest designation (Level 4) given by the National
Association of Epilepsy Centers and is one of only four designees in the state.
The Virginia Comprehensive Epilepsy Program provides a continuum of care
for neonatal to geriatric patients and has the professional expertise
and facilities to provide medical and surgical care for complex epilepsy cases.
Treatment of Patient Conditions including:
- Undiagnosed or poorly characterized seizure disorders
- Seizures refractory to anticonvulsant drug therapy
- Post-traumatic seizures
- Seizure-like events with or without altered consciousness
Providing Comprehensive Evaluations including:
- Routine, ambulatory and video EEG
- Intensive inpatient video EEG monitoring
- Anticonvulsant drug treatment and monitoring
- Cortical grid monitoring/mapping/functional MRI to determine potential
for surgical intervention
- Interventional testing including WADA, Spectography
- Neuropsychological testing
Virginia Comprehensive Epilepsy Program also conducts clinical research
trials in epilepsy and associated conditions.
Specialized Treatments:
- Anti-seizure medications
- Intercranial epilepsy surgery
- Vagal nerve stimulation
- Responsive neuro stimulation (Neuropace)
- Modified diet programs for adult and pediatric patients, i.e. ketogenic,
modified ketogenic
Providers:
-
Paul Lyons, MD, Board Certified in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, Sleep Medicine,
specializing in pediatric epilepsy
-
J. Craig Henry, MD, Board Certified in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, specializing
in geriatric epilepsy
-
Lee Selznick, MD, Board Certified Neurological Surgery
- Laila Hammer, RD, Clinical Dietitian, Valley Health
In the News:
Responsive Neurostimulation for Epilepsy
Medical Cannabinoids for Pediatric Epilepsy
Contact Information:
Request an appointment: 866-948-7055
Schedule neurodiagnostic testing: 540-536-8287
Epilepsy Surgery Coordinator: 540-536-3397 or
lschutz@valleyhealthlink.com