UCLA Department of Neurosurgery’s Post

Hemispheric surgery for epilepsy is incredibly rewarding, often making young patients seizure-free and altering their lives profoundly. It took a global effort to create the Hemispherectomy Outcome Prediction Scale (HOPS), now freely and publicly available to aid prognostication. Truly heartwarming to see the incredible commitment to advancing epilepsy treatment worldwide 🌍. Special thanks to Dr. Alexander Weil, Dr. Evan Lewis, and Dr. George Ibrahim. Also Evan Dimentberg, M.D., M.Sc. & Joseph (Jia-Shu) Chen. Explore the HOPS calculator here: [HOPS Calculator](https://lnkd.in/gGs4N9nv). #hemispherectomy #neurosurgery #epilepsy

At nine years old, Carson Brooks was diagnosed with epilepsy. As he grew older, his seizures worsened despite taking an escalating number of pills to treat his epilepsy. To address these debilitating seizures, Aria Fallah, MD, MSc, Pediatric Neurosurgeon and Co-Medical Director of the Epilepsy Surgery Program, surgically implanted a device in Carson's brain to deliver responsive neurostimulation (RNS). RNS continuously monitors brain activity, detects oncoming seizures, and delivers a small electrical current to prevent seizures. RNS has offered hope to the third of patients – like Carson – with drug-resistant epilepsy and is a fairly new option for pediatric cases. RNS, along with a second surgery to remove some of the affected area in his brain, have led to a decrease in the intensity of Carson's seizures and an improvement in his quality of life. To learn more about RNS and Carson's story, please read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g7ENnrja #Epilepsy #RNS #Neurosurgery

Hemispherectomy, or the surgical disconnection of one half of the brain from the other half and brainstem, is a type of epilepsy treatment for pediatric patients. While it is extreme, this procedure can be an integral step towards improving the lives of young patients with severe or drug-resistant epilepsy. Aria Fallah, MD, MSc, Pediatric and Epilepsy Neurosurgeon at UCLA, performs hemispherectomy procedures at UCLA. In this video, Dr. Fallah describes more about hemispherectomy, epilepsy, and the tools surgeons utilize to ensure the best outcome for every patient. Learn more about Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery here: https://lnkd.in/gGuF4GhV #Epilepsy #Hemispherectomy

We're proud to share that three of our hospitals have been listed once again in the rankings of ‘World's Best Smart Hospitals 2025’ and ‘World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2025’, the prestigious accolades made by Newsweek in collaboration with the online research platform Statista. The hospitals that have made it to the list are: •Ospedale San Raffaele: cardiology, cardiac surgery, endocrinology, neurosurgery, oncology, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, gastroenterology, urology; •Policlinico San Donato: cardiology, cardiac surgery; •Ospedale Galeazzi - Sant'Ambrogio: orthopedics. The ranking identifies the best hospitals in the world by specialty and is compiled considering the evaluations of 40,000 experts, the accreditations and international certifications obtained by the hospitals, and the implementation of Patient Reported Outcome Measures, which assess patients' perceptions of their health and quality of life. Learn more about this great news on our website: https://lnkd.in/edfST-xY #GruppoSanDonato #GSDHealthMag #ScienceBased #Ranking #Innovation

During the month of November, Mount Sinai Health System’s Department of Neurosurgery recognizes #EpilepsyAwarenessMonth. Saadi Ghatan, MD, epilepsy neurosurgeon and Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai, discusses exciting new research at Mount Sinai on Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). LGS is a rare and severe form of epilepsy that usually begins in early childhood and is characterized by multiple types of seizures. These seizures are often difficult to control with medication and can significantly impact a child's development.   With research at Mount Sinai, both pediatric and adult patients with refractory seizures—those that can't be controlled by medication—are now candidates for a promising treatment: responsive neurostimulation (RNS). This treatment is offering hope for patients who were previously not candidates for brain surgery. 💜🧠

🔹A neurosurgeon from NHS Grampian has implemented an innovative technique that allows for the removal of large brain tumors through the eyebrow, reducing operation time and improving patient recovery. This approach minimizes scarring and complications, enabling patients to leave the hospital within 24 hours and return to normal life within a few days, in contrast to more invasive traditional surgeries. Endorsed by the British Society of Neurology and the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, the technique has transformed postoperative outcomes, benefiting both patients and hospitals. Click the link to learn more 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/d_dtyTND #techtitute #Medicine #Neurosurgery #TECHGlobalUniversity

Hemimegalencephaly (HME) is a rare congenital neurological disorder that often results in drug-resistant epilepsy. Unfortunately, data to inform care can be limited. UCLA is one of a handful of centers in the U.S. with surgical expertise in HME. Pediatric Neurosurgeon Aria Fallah, MD, MSc and colleagues reported on outcomes and prognostic factors in 56 pediatric patients with HME-related drug-resistant epilepsy who underwent hemispheric surgery at UCLA from 1984 to 2021. Read the full article and findings here: https://lnkd.in/g2mNrvTF

Learn more about the #FRONTIERstudy: https://bit.ly/3UifcLi #recurrentGBM #TheraSphereGBM #Y90 Caution: Investigational Device. Limited by Federal (or US) law to investigational use only. Not available for sale. TheraSphere is not indicated for GBM, and is being studied for such in the FRONTIER clinical trial.

Go Behind The Bench of Lenox Hill Neurosurgery’s FRONTIER clinical trial, sponsored by Boston Scientific Peripheral Interventions. 🔬🧬 The aim of this study is to assess the safety and feasibility of the intra-arterial delivery of TheraSphere™ GBM Y-90 Glass Microspheres in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Lenox Hill Hospital’s Chief of Neuroendovascular Surgery, Dr. Yafell Serulle, MD, PhD, Interventional Radiologist, Dr. Jonathan Weinstein, and Senior Clinical Research Project Manager, Sanskruti (Sana) Bokil, BS, MS, share how they combine their respective expertise to facilitate this trial and the importance of offering patients treatment at every stage of this disease.    Click the link for more information about the FRONTIER study or to contact our Clinical Research Team about enrolling in one of our clinical trials. 🧠   Caution: Investigational Device. Limited by Federal (or US) law to investigational use only. Not available for sale. TheraSphere is not indicated for GBM, and is being studied for such in the FRONTIER clinical trial. https://lnkd.in/eU_uvUB4   #lenoxhillneurosurgery #lenoxhillhospital #lenoxhill #northwellhealth #northwelllife #northwellcancerinstitute #bostonscientific #glioblastomaawarenessday #glioblastomaawareness #glioblastomaresearch #braintumorresearch #braincancerresearch #neurosurgery #neurosurgeon #madeforthis #raisinghealth #igreels #instagramreels #reels #fyp

Our manuscript, 'Duraplasty with Autologous Cervical Fascia in Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumor Surgery: A Single-Center Experience with 214 Cases,' has been accepted for publication in Child's Nervous System! This study delves into the challenges of achieving watertight dural repair in pediatric posterior fossa surgeries, exploring the use of autologous cervical fascia as a safe and reliable graft option. Through a retrospective review of 214 patients, we've uncovered promising outcomes, with minimal postoperative complications. CSF leak, pseudomeningocele, and meningitis rates were impressively low at 4.2%, 2.8%, and 4.2% respectively. Our findings highlight the efficacy and safety of autologous cervical fascia in pediatric neurosurgery. This research marks the largest consecutive surgical series utilizing autologous cervical fascia as a dural substitute, offering a straightforward technique with minimal additional cost. It's a significant step forward in enhancing surgical options, particularly for resource-limited settings. #Neurosurgery #PediatricNeurosurgery #MedicalResearch #ChildsNervousSystem