Neurosurgery

Imagine a life without seizures

At the Center for Epilepsy Surgery at Tufts Medical Center in downtown Boston, our goal is to help you or your child achieve freedom from seizures. Uncontrolled epilepsy can take a toll on your body, not to mention your quality of life. Every day we help patients just like you to reduce or even eliminate their seizures.

Deciding whether or not to undergo surgery can be stressful and confusing, and we want to help you through your decision. Your Tufts MC neurosurgeon will take the time to sit down with you to discuss your condition and carefully explain your treatment options. We'll share details about epilepsy surgery, review the risks and benefits and tell you what to expect during recovery.

I've tried medication; now what?

In some cases, medication is not enough to control epilepsy. If your seizures always start in the same part of your brain, surgery may an option for you.

The Tufts MC Center for Epilepsy Surgery provides individualized treatment for adults and children who are seeking relief from seizures. Our services include:

• Monitoring seizure activity: Most of the time, our doctors can map your seizures through noninvasive electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring. Sometimes, however, it's necessary to use more complex diagnostic tools that are placed on the surface of the brain (subdural strips and grids) or in the brain tissue (depth electrodes). Our doctors are experienced in placing and removing these devices safely and effectively.

• Reducing seizures by removing their place of origin: Taking out the starting place (focus) of your epilepsy through an advanced surgical procedure (temporal lobectomy or focal resectioning) typically provides freedom from seizures for 60 to 80 percent of patients. During these procedures, our experienced neurosurgeons remove a very small part of the brain — often only about the size of a quarter — to diminish seizure activity or even stop it altogether.

• Reducing "medication-resistant" seizures - People with medication-resistant epilepsy have typically tried other methods to control their seizures, including medication, without success. If medication is ineffective, neurosurgeons may recommend removing a localized area of the brain that is triggering the seizures. When the area of the brain triggering this abnormal activity is unable to be removed due to its size or function (i.e. the area that controls speech), implanting the NeuroPace RNS System device may be an option.  

• Controlling seizures through the use of vagus nerve stimulators (VGNs): A VGN is a small device that we implant near your neck. Think of it as a pacemaker for your brain: It sends faint electrical impulses through your vagus nerve to prevent seizures.

We will work with you and your referring physician to determine the best option to help reduce your unique condition. Throughout your time in our care, you can rest assured that you're in excellent hands. Our Epilepsy Program has been awarded a Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center status by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. Learn more about this honor and what it means for you >

Meet our Chief, Dr. James Kryzanski

You deserve the best care, and that's what you'll get at Tufts MC. Our chief, James Kryzanski, MD, is ranked among the top neurosurgeons in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Prior to his work at Tufts MC, Dr. Kryzanski completed a fellowship in epilepsy surgery at Yale University. He stays abreast of the latest advances in epilepsy treatment as an active member of scientific organizations such as the American Association of Neurosurgeons and the Network of European Neuroscience Schools.

Our team has the experience and resources to successfully manage even the most complex cases. All of our surgeons specialize in minimally invasive techniques, and we'll select the least disruptive procedure to treat your condition. After surgery, the experienced staff in our dedicated neurosurgical intensive care unit will help you recover safely and comfortably.