SUDEP & Epilepsy Facts
SUDEP
Sudden Unexpected Death in EPilepsy
Drug-resistant Seizure Facts
Epilepsy Facts
An Epilepsy Center accurately diagnoses uncontrolled seizures with advanced tests and in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). They prevent seizures with correct medicine management, therapies, and minimally invasive surgical treatments.
Laser ablation is utilized as an alternative to open brain surgery. This minimally invasive procedure uses heat to destroy the precise area of the brain where seizures originate with the goal to eliminate them. This procedure offers a quick recovery.
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)
https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/sudep/
Sudden Unexpected Death in EPilepsy
- A death is referred to as SUDEP when a seemingly healthy person with epilepsy dies unexpectedly with no clear reason.
- Most, but not all, cases of SUDEP occur during or immediately after a seizure.
- Uncontrolled seizures and generalized convulsive seizures have a higher risk of SUDEP.
- SUDEP can occur at any age.
Drug-resistant Seizure Facts
- After someone fails to achieve seizure control with the trial of 2 medications, the chance of getting seizure control with medication alone is below 5 percent. After failing to achieve seizure control with three medications, the chances of success with another drug drops to 1 percent.
- One-third of people with epilepsy cannot control seizures with medication. Anyone with uncontrolled seizures should seek advanced care with an Epilepsy Center to prevent their seizures.
Epilepsy Facts
- Over 3.4 Million people in the United States have epilepsy.
- 50,000 die from epilepsy-related causes each year.
- Focal/partial seizures are locate in one area of the brain and are more common in adults.
- Generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain.
- A person can have more than one type of seizure.
- A seizure can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. When they are over 5 minutes, call 911.
An Epilepsy Center accurately diagnoses uncontrolled seizures with advanced tests and in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). They prevent seizures with correct medicine management, therapies, and minimally invasive surgical treatments.
Laser ablation is utilized as an alternative to open brain surgery. This minimally invasive procedure uses heat to destroy the precise area of the brain where seizures originate with the goal to eliminate them. This procedure offers a quick recovery.
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)
https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/sudep/