The Republican Pediatric Centre of Epilepsy is a reference center for children with seizure disorders. Epilepsy Program offers consultations and diagnostic evaluation for complex epilepsy, state-of-the-art surgery (The collaborative partnership between Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Arabkir MC and St. Ivan Rilski University Hospital, Sophia provides hope to adults and children with epilepsy. In most patients, seizures can be adequately controlled with anti-epileptic medications. However, for as many as 30% of patients with seizure disorders, the seizures are resistant to medical therapy. For some of these patients, surgery can provide a complete cure of their epilepsy.
Each patient under consideration for surgery participates in a thorough evaluation in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program before surgery to control seizures is offered. The electroencephalograms (EEGs) of patient candidates are often recorded and analyzed in the Epilepsy Monitoring Laboratory, which helps to classify the type and the locations of any observed seizures. In addition, brain imaging studies including MRI scans, PET scans may be used together with sophisticated analysis to determine which surgical procedure, if any, might be most beneficial), and dietary therapies (Diet therapy can sometimes be a good alternative for childhood epilepsy when medications cannot control seizures or have intolerable side effects. Before embarking on the ketogenic diet, we assess the child’s nutritional status, diet preferences and calorie needs. If the diet seems like it will be feasible for the family, we customize it to each child to achieve optimal seizure control while meeting daily energy and nutrient needs. We start the diet in the hospital. Before prescribing a ketogenic diet, we make sure that the child has no other medical condition that might make the diet unsafe. Ketone levels should be periodically checked and the diet tweaked as needed to maintain ketosis. Families using the classic ketogenic diet will receive a selection of recipes individualized for their child).