Kansas City, Kan- Amy Smith shared her journey with epilepsy, highlighting her use of a deep brain stimulator (DBS) after other treatments failed. The DBS, implanted in her thalamus, significantly reduced her seizures from 4-5 per year to none in 18 months.
Dr. Carol Ulloa and Dr. Jennifer Chang explained the benefits and calibration process of DBS, noting its potential for generalized epilepsy despite not yet having FDA approval for this use.
Amy Smith, patient
- Amy describes the challenges of managing epilepsy, including the use of medications and the impact of puberty on her condition.
- She talks about her experience with different medications and the effectiveness of Keppra and Lamictal and eventually DBS.
- Amy demonstrates how she can control the DBS using her phone, providing her with a sense of control.
Dr. Carol Ulloa, Epileptologist and Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, The University of Kansas Health System
- Dr. Ulloa explains the calibration process for the DBS and its ability to record local field potentials.
- She explains the potential for brain damage from seizures and the importance of seizure control.
Dr. Jennifer Cheng, Neurosurgeon, The University of Kansas Health System
- Dr. Cheng details the DBS procedure, including the implantation of wires and a battery.
- She expresses the rewarding nature of treating epilepsy patients with DBS.
Morning Rounds:
Dr. Jeff Burns, Co-Director of Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, The University of Kansas Health System
- The FDA has approved of the first blood test for Alzheimer's, which detects amyloid biomarkers, reducing the need for invasive spinal taps and costly PET scans.
- Dr. Burns emphasized the importance of exercise, diet, and sleep for brain health.
- The test is intended for patients with clear memory changes, not for long-term risk assessments.
Wednesday, May 21st is the next Open Mics with Dr. Kumer:
Rural Reality for Cancer Treatment- Many rural communities are considered health care deserts- meaning they lack health care providers. The issue is compounded when it comes to cancer. Hear about an idea to bridge that gap from a cancer survivor who’s been there.