Researchers examined data from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers’ (NAEC) annual surveys between 2003 and 2012. Highlights include:
- Average Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) beds increased from 7 beds in 2008 to 8 beds in 2012
- Annual EMU admission rates doubled between 2008 and 2012
- Average number of EMU admissions and epilepsy surgeries per center declined between 2008 and 2012
- Annual rate of anterior temporal lobectomies (ATL) for mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) declined by >65% between 2006 and 2010
- Annual rate of extratemporal surgery exceeded that of ATL for MTS from 2008 to 2012 and comprised 38% of all resective surgeries in 2012
- Vagus nerve stimulator implant rates increased steadily every year and exceeded resective surgeries in 2011 and 2012.
Kaiboriboon K, Malkhachroum AM, Zrik A, et al. Epilepsy surgery in the United States: analysis of data from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers [published online ahead of print July 26, 2015]. Epilepsy Research. 2015; doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epilepsyres.2015.07.007.
