Procedural Skills
- EEG laboratory test for epilepsy
- VNS for Epilepsy
- DBS for Parkinson’s disease and Essential Tremor
- Botox for cervical dystonia and blepharospasm
- Administering Botox for Sialorrhea for Parkinson’s disease
- Various nerve block procedures
Special procedures in the EEG Laboratory include:
- Simultaneous video-EEG in order to study the details of an episode and correlation with the EEG change (done at the hospital).
- Brain stem auditory, visual, and somatosensory evoked potentials to check the integrity of those three modalities and the localization of any disturbance within their pathways (done at the hospital).
What is an EEG?
The Electroencephalogram (EEG) laboratory test is an objective way to determine if there is a functional and organic change in the brain.
Since epilepsy has many complex manifestations, a skilled epileptologist cannot always determine if a given episode, as presented by the history or even reviewed on film, is or is not epileptic. Only an EEG with ictal rhythms or interictal discharges can make such a diagnosis of epilepsy relatively certain.
What is VNS for epilepsy?
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is a surgical treatment option for people with epilepsy whose seizures are not well-controlled by medications. It involves implanting a device that delivers electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, which is located in the neck. This device is implanted under the skin, typically in the chest, and it sends regular electrical signals to the brain via the vagus nerve to help prevent seizures or reduce their frequency.
St. Mary's Neurology Center can adjust and manage the settings for VNS. We consult with stereotactic neurosurgeons for insertion.
What is DBS for Parkinson's and Essential Tremor?
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment for movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. It involves implanting a device that sends electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain to regulate abnormal brain activity that causes tremors and other motor symptoms.
Electrodes implanted in targeted brain areas deliver electrical impulses via a pulse generator to regulate abnormal brain activity, reducing symptoms like tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease or essential tremor.
St. Mary's Neurology Center can adjust and manage the settings for DBS. We consult with stereotactic neurosurgeons for insertion.