EN
1. Prof. Candan Gürses |
2. Dr Gülşen Köse |
3. Prof. Antonio Russi |
4. Dr Rocío Sánchez-Carpintero |
5. Dr Aviva Fattal-Valevski |
6. Prof. Pavel Krsek |
7. Dr Carlos Quesada |
8. Dr Walid Fazeli |
According to the World Health Organisation, epilepsy is a widespread neurological disorder that affects around 50 million people worldwide. Epilepsy is manifested by alternating convulsive seizures caused by abnormal brain activity. Treatment of this condition is often complicated by the fact that many patients do not respond to traditional methods such as anticonvulsant drugs. Experienced epileptologists who work abroad introduce advanced technologies and treatment methods that can restore the patient’s health and free them from seizures even in complex forms of the disease.
In this article, we will talk about 8 doctors-epileptologists who are recognised experts in this field due to their experience and knowledge.
Candan Gürses – Koç Clinic in Turkey
Dr Candan Gürses is an outstanding specialist in the field of neurology and neurosurgery with more than 32 years of experience. Her clinical interests include epilepsy, sleep disorders, electroencephalography, polysomnography, video EEG monitoring, invasive EEG monitoring, cortical stimulation, etc.
She completed her specialisation in neurology and spent 2,5 years of training at the Montreal Neurological Institute in Canada in epilepsy surgery. In 2003, she was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor and in 2010, she became a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, where she chaired the Department of Neurology.
Dr Gürses taught at Cleveland Hospitals in the USA and served on the board of directors of the Turkish Epilepsy Association for 8 years. An important achievement of hers was organising the International Epilepsy Congress in Istanbul in 2015.
Dr Gürses served as President of the Epilepsy Application and Research Centre (EPIMER) at Istanbul University from 2016 to 2018 and has been a member of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Commission on Intellectual Disabilities since 2017.
The Department of Neurology provides surgical treatment of epilepsy for patients who do not respond to drug therapy. Before surgery, an interdisciplinary team of doctors consisting of epileptologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, nuclear medicine specialists, neuropsychologists and psychiatrists assesses the patient’s condition and performs a comprehensive diagnosis. Each patient is examined using brain MRI, PET and SPECT scans to accurately identify the source of epileptic activity. Depending on the results of the examination, the optimal method of treatment is chosen – surgical interventions to resect the epileptogenic zone or various types of brain stimulation (cortex or vagus nerve). All these procedures are performed using modern neurosurgical and imaging equipment, ensuring a high level of accuracy and safety of treatment.
Testimonial about treatment at the Koç Clinic:
“As a foreign patient, I was very lucky to be treated in this hospital. I can only say good things about my stay. From the first minute, I received excellent care: an interpreter was always at my disposal, which made it incredibly easy to communicate and ensure that I understood the information. I was particularly impressed by the efficient organisation of the hospital, as I did not have to wait in a queue, which is not typical of medical facilities. The professional competence of the medical staff was exceptional. I was examined by specialists and a professor whose expertise and dedication to their patients were impeccable. They took the time to analyse the situation and discuss the best possible therapy options for me. This was a first-class treatment, so value for money was justified. The quality of care and service provided far exceeded my expectations.”
Read: Dr Gülşen Köse – Liv Hospital in Turkey
Dr Gülşen Köse from Liv Hospital is one of the strongest specialists in Turkey in the treatment of paediatric epilepsy. She has over 43 years of practical experience.
Dr Gülsen Köse specialises in the treatment of epilepsy, febrile seizures, infantile cerebral palsy as well as neurodegenerative and neurometabolic diseases. She uses both standard and innovative therapies in her practice, including regenerative medicine and cell therapy. She has numerous publications in international and national peer-reviewed journals and actively participates in Turkish and international thematic congresses and conventions.
Dr Köse has a wide range of professional experience. She has worked in various medical institutions including Ihsan Dogramacı Hospital in Ankara and Hamidiye Eftal Şişli Hospital in Istanbul, where she has held senior positions in paediatric neurology departments.
She is also actively involved in medical associations including Turkish, European and International Societies of Paediatric Neurology, the Turkish Epilepsy Society and others.
Liv Hospital uses an interdisciplinary and individual approach to the treatment of epilepsy in children and adults. Experienced specialists who apply the latest technologies and methods in the diagnosis and therapy of neurological pathologies work here.
Doctors have considerable experience in the treatment of epilepsy in children of all ages – from infants to adolescents. Diagnostics here are carried out according to modern standards. The results are evaluated by a team of doctors from different specialities to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the therapy tactics suitable for a particular patient. Specialists at the clinic understand that children’s organisms are vulnerable and have a different nervous system. They are ready to help with any urgent neurological problems such as seizures, strokes, fever and other conditions.
Liv Clinic Therapy Review:
“I wanted to express my gratitude to the clinic where my son is being treated for organising a comfortable process of accompaniment in treatment, patient and doctor communication. For patients who don’t know Turkish or are not fluent in English, they have provided everything in advance for their convenience. Each patient is assigned an interpreter, who accompanies them through all the steps in the clinic, participates in the dialogue with the doctor and provides all the necessary information.”
Antonio Russi – Teknon Medical Centre in Spain
Dr Antonio Russi is a world-renowned neurologist working at the Teknon Clinic in Barcelona and founder of the Institute of Epileptology. In 2019, Forbes magazine ranked him among the top 5 best neurologists in Spain.
In more than 50 years of medical practice, he has become an unrivalled expert in the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of epilepsy, including the rarest and most complex cases, such as West syndrome (a severe form of epilepsy).
Thanks to correctly selected drug therapy, 80% of his patients get rid of epileptic seizures without surgery. If antiepileptic drugs remain ineffective, Dr Russi selects the best option for neurosurgical treatment. He is fluent in modern, safe methods, such as robotic intracranial thermocoagulation.
As part of epilepsy diagnosis and therapy, the doctor performs electroencephalography during sleep and wakefulness for several days, and pharmacogenetic testing to determine the body’s response to antiepileptic drugs. He also uses other studies to pinpoint the exact location of the pathological focus in the brain and the state of the central nervous system.
Dr Russey stays in touch with his patients for at least six months, monitoring results and adjusting therapy if necessary.
According to the standards of the National Association of Epilepsy Centres (NAEC), the Department of Epileptology at Teknon Clinic has a level 4 rating. Epilepsy treatment is provided through the Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment of Difficult Epilepsy Programme, which aims to eliminate epileptic seizures in patients of all ages. Doctors in the department use advanced technology for surgical treatment and diagnostic procedures, such as intracranial analysis using electrodes.
Teknon Clinic offers patients a wide range of epilepsy treatments: antiepileptic drugs, resection surgery, palliative surgery, neurostimulation and ketogenic diet. Patients also have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials of new antiepileptic drugs.
Testimonial about epilepsy treatment with Dr Antonio Russi:
“Our experience with Dr Russi has been excellent! He has been treating my mum for epilepsy for 4 years now and the truth is that thanks to him the seizures are under control, which was not the case before. He is very patient, and attentive and always strives to find improvements for his patients. He is very supportive! A great specialist and professional in his field! I recommend him 100%.”
Dr Rocio Sanchez-Carpintero – Navarra University Hospital in Spain
Dr Rocio Sanchez-Carpintero is among the best neurologists in Spain. She is the chief specialist in paediatrics and child neurology at the Navarra University Hospital and treats children with various forms of epilepsy.
Her areas of interest include the diagnosis and therapy of epilepsy and Dravet syndrome in children, learning disabilities and mental retardation.
Dr Sanchez-Carpintero is a graduate of the University of Navarra, where she obtained her MD in Medicine and Surgery and specialised in Paediatrics. She then trained in paediatric neurology at the Navarra University Hospital and additional training in paediatric epilepsy at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Dr Sanchez-Carpintero is currently active in research in paediatric epilepsy and neuropsychology, with a particular focus on attention problems and cognitive impairment in children with epilepsy. She has more than 10 clinical studies and 7 competitive research projects to her credit.
Dr Sanchez-Carpintero is President of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Neurology and is accredited by the Spanish Society of Paediatric Neurology and the Spanish Association of Paediatrics.
The epileptology departments are located in Madrid and Pamplona. Their technical equipment allows for a comprehensive study of the brain structures and allows the cause of a person’s seizures to be determined as quickly as possible. To diagnose the disease, video electroencephalogram monitoring is carried out to observe epileptic seizures and record changes in real-time. Patients also have the opportunity to undergo neuroimaging tests on 3 Tesla MRI, PET and SPECT machines to obtain functional images of brain activity.
The Epilepsy Unit has a surgical treatment programme for patients who do not respond to pharmacological treatment. A team of specialists performs surgical interventions using state-of-the-art neurosurgical equipment and instruments, achieving maximum efficiency without complications.
Testimonial about treatment at the Navarra Clinic:
“My son and I stayed at this hospital. He underwent diagnostics, surgery and additional treatment. The surgery went well, the care is top-notch. In neuropediatrics there are exceptional specialists, from Dr Sanchez-Carpintero to the nurses, and in ophthalmology, Dr Saenz de Viteri and his team. I recommend this place 100%.”
Dr Aviva Fattal-Valevski – Sourasky Medical Centre in Israel
Dr. Aviva Fattal-Valevski is an experienced neurologist and Head of the Department of Child Neurology at the Pediatric Clinic of Suraski Medical Center. She has more than 45 years of experience in the field of neurology and specialises in the treatment of epilepsy, neurometabolic and neurogenetic diseases in children, as well as botulinum toxin therapy for muscle spasticity and infantile cerebral palsy.
To diagnose epilepsy, the doctor performs electroencephalography, SPECT and MRI of the brain, neuropsychological tests and genetic studies. She uses drug therapy with modern medications, deep brain stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation and other effective technologies to treat the disease.
Dr Fattal-Valevski completed her undergraduate medical education at the Faculty of Medicine of Tel Aviv University, where she graduated with honours. She is an active participant in international research projects in the field of neurology and has authored more than 50 scientific and medical publications and conference papers.
Dr Aviva Fattal-Valevski is an active participant in Israeli and international medical organisations, such as the Israeli Medical Society, the Israeli Society of Clinical Paediatrics, the European Association of Child Neurological Pathologies, etc. She is also an active member of the Israeli and international medical community.
The Dana-Dwek Children’s Clinic at Sourasky Medical Centre provides care for children and adolescents with a wide range of neurological disorders. One of the key areas of the clinic’s activities is the treatment of epilepsy.
The team of experienced doctors specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of various forms of the disease and also offers comprehensive care in neonatal neurology, cerebral palsy, neuromuscular and movement disorders. The clinic is equipped with the latest technology. Patients have the opportunity to undergo a neurophysiological study to accurately characterise epileptic symptoms and to select the optimal therapy.
Review of treatment at the Sourasky Clinic:
“Dana Children’s Hospital is one of the best. My daughter had an operation here, and everything went great. There is rehabilitation after surgeries, which helped a lot in recovery. There are places to relax, restaurants, cafes, entertainment for children and everything else. I recommend it!”
Prof Pavel Krsek – Motol University Hospital in the Czech Republic
Dr Pavel Krsek is a board-certified neurologist and chief physician of the Department of Paediatric Neurology at the Motol University Hospital. He specialises in the medical and surgical treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
Pavel Krsek received his medical education at Charles University and specialised in neurology, including training in microsurgical brain surgery in Germany.
Dr Krsek’s professional career began at Charles University, where he held a position as a lecturer in neurology. In the following years, he became an expert in the surgical treatment of epilepsy and neurological defects.
Dr Pavel Krsek is a member of the Czech Society of Neurology and Epilepsy, the European Neurological Society, and the chairman of the EpiStop committee. He actively publishes the results of his research focusing on the surgical treatment of epilepsy and brain anomalies.
The Centre for Paediatric Neurology at the Motol Clinic provides a wide range of state-of-the-art treatments for epilepsy and other neurological diseases in children aged from 4 weeks to 18 years. It is the largest paediatric neurology facility in the Czech Republic and acts as a consultation facility for all paediatric neurological diagnoses throughout the country and also offers assistance to patients from abroad.
The centre has an outpatient department, two inpatient units and an intensive care unit. There are a total of 40 patient beds, including 6 beds in the ICU and 6 beds in the video/EEG and monitoring department. Patients are provided with a full range of electrophysiological diagnostics – electroencephalography, electromyography, all types of evoked potentials, sleep laboratory, and DNA laboratory.
The Adult Neurology Department offers modern methods of treatment of epilepsy and other neurological diseases using the latest knowledge of neuroscience and medical technology. It provides comprehensive diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive care in cooperation with the clinical departments of Motol Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University. The department employs a team of experienced specialists, including certified neurologists, speech therapists, psychologists, biochemists and laboratory technicians.
The department is headed by Prof Petr Marusič, a highly qualified neurologist and researcher. He specialises in the treatment of epilepsy and has extensive experience in this field. His research focuses on various aspects of the disease, including the study of seizures, the efficacy of antiepileptic drugs and the value of MRI in preoperative assessment. He has devoted more than 170 scientific publications to this topic. Dr Marusič participates in international societies and is a member of the EpiStop and EPI 99 committees.
Testimonial about epilepsy treatment at the Motol Clinic:
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the department of paediatric neurology and psychology. The attitude of all the nurses and doctors is just amazing. My biggest thanks go to Professor Pavel Kršek. He helped us a lot! His treatment helped my daughter and there is no need for surgery. Now my daughter feels great. Thank you!”
Dr Carlos Quesada – University Hospital Essen in Germany
Dr Carlos Quesada is head of the Epilepsy Centre (Leiter Epilepsie-Zentrum) at the University Hospital Essen. He has extensive experience in neurology and specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. In addition to practising in the clinic, Dr Quesada participates in clinical research, and holds conferences and seminars on the topic of epilepsy, making significant contributions to education and research in this field.
Dr Quesada holds certifications from the German Society for Epileptology in pre-surgical diagnosis and surgical therapy of epilepsy. He has qualifications in electroencephalography and genetic research under legislation.
The doctor provides a comprehensive approach to patients with various forms of epilepsy. He uses modern methods such as structural magnetic resonance imaging, invasive EEG recording and multimodal imaging to make a diagnosis. Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor selects the optimal therapy plan – medication or surgery.
The Epilepsy Centre Essen is part of the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Essen. It was founded in 2018 and is certified by the German Society of Epileptology. The new Epilepsy Department, which opened at the beginning of 2020, allows a full range of diagnostics and treatment for patients with different forms of epilepsy. Thanks to close cooperation with the Department of Neurosurgery, patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy are offered comprehensive preoperative diagnosis and referral for surgical treatment.
Testimonial about treatment at the Essen Epilepsy Centre:
“I went to the neurology clinic in Essen after my medication stopped working. After diagnosis, the doctor recommended surgery. There was no other option – I agreed, which I do not regret. Everything went perfectly and without complications. Now I am happy to say that I no longer have epilepsy attacks and I am grateful to the team of specialists for their professionalism and care.”
Dr Walid Fazeli – University Hospital Cologne in Germany
Dr Walid Fazeli is an outstanding specialist in paediatrics and adolescent medicine at the Department of Neuropediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of the University Hospital of Cologne.
He specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy with a special focus on childhood epilepsy. Dr Fazeli tailors individual courses of treatment for each patient, taking into account their unique needs and characteristics.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr Fazeli is actively involved in several German and international epilepsy associations. His research interests include translational research in the field of genetic epilepsies, aiming to develop more effective and personalised methods for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Awarded the European Society of Paediatric Neurology Prize for his research, Dr Fazeli continues to work in the field of paediatric neurology to improve outcomes for patients with epilepsy.
The Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Cologne, under the direction of Professor Gereon Fink, specialises in the diagnosis and individual treatment of epilepsy. The clinic offers a wide range of neurological functional diagnostics including neurosonology, neurophysiology and electroencephalography.
The only certified outpatient epilepsy clinic in Cologne operates here. For the treatment of seizure disorders, differentiated diagnosis and therapy of patients is carried out. The doctors select the optimal drug regimen for each case and continuously monitor the effectiveness of the therapy using electroencephalographic monitoring. In addition, the clinic offers consultations and additional tests for patients experiencing epileptic seizures for the first time to clarify the diagnosis and determine the need for drug therapy.
Testimonial about treatment at the University Hospital Cologne:
“I would like to thank Dr Fazeli from the bottom of my heart. He saved my daughter. We came from far away and the doctors in our country couldn’t help us. Dr Fazeli examined my daughter and said that for the time being we could do without medication. His treatment regimen helped to get rid of the seizures. Now my daughter feels completely healthy.”
Summary
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterised by convulsive seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Approximately 50 million people worldwide suffer from this condition. In some patients, traditional methods of treatment with anticonvulsant drugs are ineffective. Innovative approaches, such as deep brain stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, radiosurgery, immunoglobulin therapy and many others are used abroad to help even the most severe patients regain their health.
In Turkey, children and adults with epilepsy are helped in Koç and Liv clinics. Experienced neurologists Dr Candan Gürses and Gülşen Köse work here. They use the latest technologies for accurate diagnosis and effective therapy of neurological diseases.
Neurology in Spain is one of the priority areas. The leading clinics in the field of epilepsy are considered to be Teknon and the University Hospital of Navarra. In-demand doctors in the field of epileptology are Professor Antonio Russi and Dr Rocío Sánchez-Carpintero. They have extensive experience in the therapy of brain pathologies and help restore health to children and adults.
Israeli neurologists have gained recognition and authority due to the development and implementation of new effective methods of therapy for neurological diseases. One of the strongest epileptologists in the country is Dr Aviva Fattal-Valevski from the Sourasky Clinic. She has 45 years of experience in the field of neurology and specialises in the treatment of epilepsy, neurometabolic and neurogenetic diseases in children, as well as the treatment of muscle spasticity and infantile cerebral palsy with botulinum toxin.
ОThe epilepsy department at the Motol Clinic is the largest in the Czech Republic. Patients of all ages come here for diagnosis and treatment of seizures. Dr Pavel Krsek is the most popular. He is a board-certified neurologist. He specialises in the medical and surgical treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
In Germany, the largest epilepsy units are located at the University Hospitals of Essen and Cologne. Renowned neurologists specialising in epileptology, Carlos Quesada and Walid Fazeli, work here. They offer their patients comprehensive diagnostics to determine the cause of seizures and effective therapy to eliminate them.
Epilepsy is a disease that can be managed with the help of modern treatment methods and competent doctors. Contact MediGlobus specialists to choose a clinic and make an appointment with an experienced neurologist. Click on the button below and leave your contact details.
Sources:
