Building and Expanding a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program: Perspectives From a Children's...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurosurgery
• Epileptology
• Healthcare Program Development

Background:

• Drug-resistant epilepsy is common in children, often requiring surgical intervention for optimal outcomes.
• A significant undersupply of qualified pediatric epilepsy centers limits timely access to care.
• Developing specialized programs is crucial for addressing the unmet needs in pediatric epilepsy surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the strategic development and expansion of a Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program in a low-resource setting.
• To present a replicable model for establishing and growing pediatric epilepsy surgery services.
• To highlight the integration of innovative technologies and comprehensive care approaches.

Main Methods:

• Implemented strategic planning to overcome infrastructure, staffing, and resource limitations.
• Acquired advanced neurosurgical and neurodiagnostic equipment, including Visualase laser ablation and Surgical Theater.
• Enhanced staff training and established subspecialty pediatric epilepsy clinics.

Main Results:

• Achieved a substantial increase in surgical volume since the program's inception.
• Integrated innovative technologies such as responsive neurostimulation, deep brain stimulation, and robotic-assisted stereoelectroencephalography.
• Attained national recognition for a comprehensive and cutting-edge approach to pediatric epilepsy care.

Conclusions:

• A structured approach to strategic development, infrastructure planning, and staffing can successfully establish a pediatric epilepsy surgery program.
• The program serves as a valuable model for institutions in resource-limited settings seeking to improve access to epilepsy surgery.
• Expansion and support of pediatric epilepsy centers are vital for optimizing outcomes in children with epilepsy.