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Multidisciplinary Course

Interventions for Pharmacoresistant Epilepsy

Monday, June 9, 2025
8:00 AM – 10:30 AM ET
CE: 2.5

Audience:

Adult Neurologist, Child Neurologist, Neurosurgeon, Neuroradiologist, Neurophysiologist, Resident, Fellow, Nurses with interest in topic

Learning Level:

Intermediate (Practicing Physician), Advanced (Special Interest, Higher Level Discussion)

Learning Format:

Forum/panels, Lecture/plenary method

CanMEDs Roles:

Medical Expert, Health Advocate

This course provides a multidisciplinary approach to the management of pharmacoresistant epilepsy, focusing on the latest advancements in therapy. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the diagnostic work-up necessary for surgical evaluation, including advanced imaging modalities such as MRI, SPECT, and MEG, and how these tools aid in the localization of epileptogenic foci. The course will also explore the surgical options available for both lesional and non-lesional epilepsy, including focal resection, callosotomy, and other innovative surgical approaches. In addition to surgical options, the course will discuss the role of neuromodulation therapies like Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS), and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) as adjuncts or alternatives to surgery. Lastly, the ketogenic diet will be explored as a non-pharmacological intervention, with attention to its mechanisms, indications, and clinical outcomes in the treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize the indications, contraindications, and potential side effects of ketogenic diet therapy.
  • Identify the types of advanced imaging techniques used in the evaluation of DRE (e.g., functional MRI, PET, SPECT, MEG) and understand how imaging contributes to the identification of epileptogenic zones and guides treatment planning.
  • Outline the types of surgical options available for DRE, including resective, disconnective, and palliative surgeries and discuss the risks, benefits, and expected outcomes of differnet types of epilepsy surgery.
  • Compare the indications of different neuromodulation interventions including vagal nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation and responsive neurostimulation.

Presentations:

  • 8:00 AM – 8:35 AM ET
    Ketogenic Diet: Medically Refractory Epilepsy

    Speaker: Robyn Whitney

  • 8:35 AM – 9:10 AM ET
    Imaging modalities in patients requiring epilepsy surgery

    Speaker: Pradeep Krishnan

  • 9:10 AM – 9:45 AM ET
    Lesional and non-lesional epilepsy surgery

    Speaker: Roy Dudley

  • 9:45 AM – 10:20 AM ET
    Neuromodulation therapies for drug resistant epilepsy

    Speaker: Jonathan Lau