Elder Hay performs the first laser treatment for epilepsy

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has carried out its first procedure using technology that allows doctors to identify and destroy the area of ​​the brain that causes seizures in people with epilepsy.

The procedure, called laser interstitial thermal therapy, works by using an MRI-guided laser ablation system. This allows a surgeon to destroy affected brain tissue with precision and in real time.

This solution can help patients with epilepsy remain seizure-free. It can be used in cases where doctors have been able to identify the specific area of ​​the brain that is causing the seizures, and if their epilepsy is not already well controlled by medication.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy is a less invasive alternative to open surgery. It requires a much smaller incision of 3.3 mm as compared to open surgery, which results in less scarring. It also reduces the time patients spend in the hospital for recovery after treatment.

Currently, only three hospitals in total across the UK – including Alder Hey – are offering this procedure.

Mr Jonathan Ellenbogen, consultant neurosurgeon at Alder Hey, said: “Alder Hey is only one of two pediatric hospitals in the UK to offer this procedure, which will drastically change the way epilepsy is treated for many children and young people.

“It is a minimally invasive surgical option that requires a much smaller incision (just 3.3 mm) as compared to open surgery. Other benefits include fewer wounds and reduced time spent in hospital for children and young people.

In 2021 Alder Hey Children’s becomes the first pediatric hospital in Europe to be awarded EMRAM Stage 7 from the NHS Foundation Trust Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). This recognition is a testament to Elder Hay’s commitment to the use of digital technology to improve patient safety and enhance its clinical care.