Diagnosis
Epilepsy is just one of many different kinds of seizure disorders. There are also a number of unrelated medical conditions with seizure-like symptoms.
That's why pinpointing the exact problem is so important. It lays the groundwork for the most successful treatment possible. At the Swedish Epilepsy Center, we have the sophisticated resources vital to making an accurate diagnosis.
We start by taking a complete medical history. A 3 Tesla MRI (magnetic resonance imager) is used to look at particular brain structures and detect even the most subtle lesions. Most importantly, we carefully monitor seizures.
The Epilepsy Center has specially equipped patient rooms, including two for children, for video electroencephalogram (VEEG) telemetry monitoring. VEEG monitoring digitally tracks your brain's electrical activity, heart rate and blood-oxygen saturation levels around-the-clock.
Using infrared videocameras, EEG recordings and other equipment, we collect valuable information to help us understand what happens before, during and at the end of your seizures. Monitoring sessions can last several days, depending on how long it takes to capture seizures for evaluation. In certain cases, special imaging studies, called SPECT, PET and SISCOM scans, are used to give information about the function of different brain areas during and between seizures.
After all of the testing and monitoring has been completed and a diagnosis has been made, each case is carefully reviewed to develop individual treatment plans.
Contact Information
Epilepsy
550 17th AvenueSuite 540
Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: 206-386-3880
Map & Directions
Need a second opinion?
Call 206-386-3880 or 1-800-331-7533 to make an appointment now.
Program Accreditation
Our program is accredited by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a level-four epilepsy center, indicating the most comprehensive level of care for patients with seizures.
What to expect during your hospital stay
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