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Surgery is the most effective treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. In specialised clinics, brain surgery is carried out with high safety and effectiveness. 70-75% of patients who have undergone surgery eliminate seizures or significantly reduce their frequency.
 
In this article, we have compiled a list of the best foreign epilepsy clinics. We take into account the level of medical facilities, the availability of modern equipment, the effectiveness of surgery, the experience of neurosurgeons, the level of patient care, reviews and prices.

 

 

Epilepsy treatment at Liv Vadistanbul Clinic

Liv Vadistanbul is a Turkish centre of excellence. It is one of the most modern and multidisciplinary clinics in the region. A team of specialists – neurologists, neurosurgeons, epileptologists, psychologists, etc. – is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of every person diagnosed with epilepsy. Patients and their families are provided with modern, dynamic and multi-faceted support.

 

    Liv Vadistanbul Hospital is certified by JCI, TÜV SÜD and the Turkish Ministry of Health.

 

Liv Vadistanbul Clinic provides all available methods of modern epilepsy treatment:

 

    иконка галочки Drug therapy (effective in 70-80% of cases);  

    иконка галочки Focal resection;  

    иконка галочки Lesionectomy;  

    иконка галочки Multiple subpial transections;  

    иконка галочки Laser interstitial thermal therapy;  

    иконка галочкиRadical or functional hemispherectomy and hemispherotomy;  

    иконка галочкиCorpus callosotomy;;  

    иконка галочкиStereotactic radiosurgery;

    иконка галочкиImplanted neurostimulators (VNS, RNS, DBS).

 

The risk of complications after epilepsy surgery is minimised by electrophysiological monitoring. During a craniotomy, the patient’s condition is monitored by a team of neurosurgeons and intensive care specialists in the intensive care unit, located in single isolation rooms.

 

Liv Clinic’s medical team provides professional consultation for patients and their loved ones, which is particularly important when the condition is diagnosed in a child. In treating epilepsy, it is important to be able to recognise the disease yourself, to be aware of possible problems and risks, how you can help the patient yourself and when it is better to see a doctor. This holistic approach to treating epilepsy not only helps to reduce the frequency of seizures but also improves the quality of life of the patient and their full integration into society.

 


Professor Nurperi Gazioğlu is the leading expert on epilepsy at Liv Vadistanbul Clinic.


Dr Gazioğlu is one of the leading specialists in neurosurgery in Turkey, and the first woman to be awarded the title of professor in this field. Her professional experience is more than 40 years. In 2013 she was chosen as the first and so far the only female president of the CNS Surgery Society of Turkey. She is also the co-founder of the Hypophyseal Centre of Istanbul University. The doctor speaks English, French, Italian and Spanish. She is a member of Academia Eurasiana Neurochirurgica, the Italian Neurosurgical Society (SINCh), the French Society of Neurosurgery, the Society of Pituitary Surgeons and the Society of Neuroendoscopy. She was a member of the executive board of the Turkish Academy of Neurosurgery in 2015-2016 and a member of its research committee in 2018-2020.

Dr Nurperi Gazioglu

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Treatment for epilepsy at Koç University Hospital

Koç University Hospital is located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the country’s leading medical centres specialising in neurosurgery. The hospital meets the highest ISO and JCI standards.

 

The Koç Clinic has the most technologically advanced equipment for diagnosing and treating epilepsy. The same instruments are used here as in the most prestigious hospitals in the USA and Europe. However, the cost of epilepsy treatment in Turkey is 1,5-2 times cheaper and the procedure of getting an appointment is shorter.

 

Neuronavigation systems are used during neurosurgical interventions at Koç University Hospital. With their help, the doctor can identify the area of the brain that requires treatment, making surgery more efficient and safer. The system is also used when placing deep electrodes for DBS. The number of complications following epilepsy surgery with a neuronavigation system is three times lower than without it.

 

At Koç University Hospital, laser treatment for epilepsy is also available. Such surgery is safer as it does not require opening up the skull. Some patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy may be treated with Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. The neurosurgery department uses a state-of-the-art Leksell Icon machine, which allows doctors to perform high-precision treatment in a few sessions. It monitors the patient’s body position in real-time and automatically selects the best and safest dose of radiation.

 


The Koç University Hospital’s leading specialist in treating epilepsy is Professor Candan Gürses.


Dr Gürses is one of Turkey’s leading specialists in the treatment of epilepsy, especially in children. She chaired the Turkish branch of the International Epilepsy League and the Epilepsy Practice and Research Centre (EPIMER). Professor has worked in the field of neurology and neurosurgery for over 35 years, during which time she has written over 350 scientific papers published in prestigious medical journals. The doctor works closely with scientific institutes such as Istanbul University, the Montreal Neurological Institute in Canada and the Cleveland Clinic in the USA. Dr Candan Gürces is one of the main pioneers of epileptology in Turkey. She headed the Turkish branch of the International Epilepsy League for eight years.

доктор кардан гюрзе

Epilepsy treatment at Teknon Clinic

Teknon, located in Barcelona, is one of the top hospitals in the country for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. According to the National Association of Epilepsy Centres (NAES), Teknon meets the highest standards of medical facilities and can provide the most extensive care to its patients. This includes sophisticated forms of intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring as well as more extensive medical, neuropsychological and psychosocial treatment.

 

    Teknon Clinic holds distinctions from JCI, IMTJ, IEH, MRS, the Spanish Alliance for Private Healthcare (ASPE), the European Foundation for Quality Management, Newsweek and Forbes.

 

Teknon Clinic’s epilepsy treatment programme uses the latest technology to diagnose and treat the condition, including intracranial electrode analysis. Treatment options include antiepileptic drugs, resection surgery, palliative surgery, neurostimulation and a ketogenic diet. The hospital is also involved in clinical trials of new antiepileptic drugs.

 

In addition to meaningful medical aspects, counsellors discuss personal topics relating to the quality of life, employment and other problems that patients face. Their awareness of the disorder is fundamental to successful diagnosis and treatment.

 

 


Professor Antonio Russi is the chief specialist in epilepsy at Teknon Clinic.


Dr Antonio Russi heads the Department of Epilepsy and Electroencephalography at the Teknon Clinic, as well as the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Barcelona. He is also the founder and director of the Epilepsia Russi Institut. His professional experience is more than 52 years. Over 2,000 patients of Dr Russi have had a complete recovery from their epileptic seizures. He regularly participates in organising medical conferences, congresses and drug studies. He is the current president of the Spanish Bureau of Epilepsy and a member of many medical organisations, including the American Epilepsy Society.

Dr Antonio Russi

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The University Hospital of Navarra is one of the leading clinics in Spain specialising in the treatment of epilepsy. In 2020, the hospital was recognised by the Monitor de Reputación Sanitaria (MRS) as the number one neurological centre. The hospital is JCI certified and is ranked by Newsweek magazine as one of the best medical centres in the world.

 

The epilepsy department at Uniclinica Navarra is made up of specialists from various fields and has the most modern and accurate diagnostic methods available:

 

    иконка галочкиelectroencephalogram (EEG); 

    иконка галочкиvideo EEG monitoring machine; 

    иконка галочкиHigh-field (3T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain;  

    иконка галочкиPET;  

    иконка галочкиSPECT. 

 

The epilepsy diagnosis package at Uniclinica Navarra includes a comprehensive examination with diagnosis results in less than 72 hours, an individualised treatment plan and a proposal for post-consultation follow-up of the patient by a specialist nursing team.

 

Based on a comprehensive diagnosis, the medical team can offer three treatment options for epilepsy:

 

    иконка галочки Medication – a personalised course of drugs to reduce the frequency of seizures.  

    иконка галочки Resective surgery – removal of the brain tissue that is causing the seizures. The most frequently performed procedures include hippocampectomy (removal of the temporal pole below the first temporal gyrus) and subpial exenteration of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and amygdala.  

    иконка галочки Functional surgery is performed when resective surgery is not possible or not recommended. In this case, a device is implanted into the vagus nerve, which affects the electronic activity of the brain.  

 

The University Hospital of Navarra is the only one in Spain that uses 3T MRI scans during surgery. This allows the surgical procedures to be as accurate as possible.


The most sought-after epilepsy specialist at Uniclinica Navarra is Dr Jorge Guridi Legarra.


Dr Legarra is the head of the Neurosurgery department at the University Hospital of Navarra. He has over 30 years of professional experience. He has trained at prestigious institutions in the USA: the Mayo Clinic and Emory University. He is one of the country’s best experts in deep brain stimulation, a procedure which is sometimes used in the treatment of epilepsy. Dr Jorge Guridi Legarrais the author of more than 100 publications in national and international journals, 30 book chapters and 200 conference and seminar presentations.

Dr Jorje Guiridi

Epilepsy treatment at Sheba Clinic

One of the most popular clinics in Israel among epilepsy patients is the Sheba Clinic. The hospital is highly regarded abroad: according to Newsweek magazine, it is one of the top 10 medical centres in the world.

 

Both adults and children with epilepsy can get treatment at the Sheba Clinic; however, special attention is given to paediatric patients. More than 150 successful brain surgeries are performed here each year. The doctors use state-of-the-art neuronavigation and intraoperative MRI facilities to maximise the success and safety of the interventions.

 

The Sheba Clinic Epilepsy Surgery Programme offers promising treatment options for children whose epilepsy cannot be successfully treated with medication. The close collaboration between the paediatric neurosurgeon and the paediatric neurology team offers new hope for children with severe cases.

 

As one of the world’s medical innovators, Israel is a good option for patients interested in new treatments for epilepsy.

 


Among the most sought-after neurosurgeons at Sheba Hospital who treat epilepsy is Dr Zeev Feldman.


Dr Feldman is one of Israel’s top paediatric neurosurgeons and Vice-President of the Israel Medical Association. He is the head of the Department of paediatric neurosurgery at Sheba Hospital and is its founder. During his 28 years of work, Dr Feldman has been able to help thousands of patients with epilepsy get rid of their seizures. He studied surgery for paediatric epilepsy at the prestigious Baylor College of Medicine in the USA. He has authored numerous articles and monographs. In addition, Dr Feldman is the Chairman of the World Brotherhood of the Israel Medical Association (IMA-WF).

Dr Zeev Feldman

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Epilepsy treatment at SoonChunHyang Hospital

SoonChunHyang Hospital is one of the leading neurology and neurosurgery centres in South Korea. It is ranked by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as the number one hospital in Seoul. This hospital is JCI and WEO certified. The doctors working there have won many prestigious awards.

 

SoonChunHyang is considered a leader in the promotion and modernisation of medicine, and the medical staff also have a reputation for being the best in Korea.

 

The surgical treatment of epilepsy at the Neurology Department of the SoonChunHyang Hospital follows the latest protocols. The clinic’s treatment standards comply with the recommendations of the American Epilepsy Society (AES).

 

The quality of the medical equipment used at the SoonChunHyang Clinic during brain surgery is of the highest standard. This ensures that all types of surgical treatment for epilepsy – focal resection, hemispherectomy, lesionectomy, etc. – are performed safely and without complications. Laser treatment of epilepsy (LITT procedure) is also available here. This is a type of thermal ablation that uses high temperatures to destroy the seizure source. During the procedure, a small probe is placed into the problem area of the brain under MRI monitoring. The machine removes the desired area with high precision, without touching nearby nerve tissue. The patient is discharged from the hospital after 1-2 days.

 

The Department of Neurology at SoonChunHyang Hospital is headed by Professor Mu-Yong Ahn. He is an associate professor at the Stroke Centre of the Detroit Henry Ford Hospital and a current professor in the Department of Neurobiology at SoonChunHyang University Hospital. In 2020, the doctor received the Songpa Medical Award at the 39th Symposium of the Korean Association of Neurology. The professor has a working experience of over 35 years.

 

Dr Moo-Young Ahn

    Summary

    иконка галочкиThe leading epilepsy treatment centres in Turkey are the Koç University Hospital and Liv Vadistanbul Clinic. Professor Nurperi Gazioğlu and Professor Candan Gürses practise there. 

    иконка галочкиForeign citizens turn to Teknon and Navarra clinics for professional epilepsy treatment in Spain. The neurosurgery departments of these hospitals are run by world-class experts Drs. Antonio Russi and Jorge Guridi Legarra. 

    иконка галочкиOne of the most effective epilepsy centres in Eastern countries is the SoonChunHyang Clinic in Korea. The hospital’s leading specialist is Professor Moo-Young Ahn. 

    иконка галочкиThe efficacy of treatment of diffuse B-cell lymphoma with modern techniques can be as high as 89%. 

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Sources:

  1. 1. Epilepsy Foundation
  2. 2. The long-term outcome of adult epilepsy surgery, patterns of seizure remission, and relapse: a cohort study


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