Epilepsy Center

At Children’s Nebraska, we are at the forefront of pediatric epilepsy services, designated as a level 4 pediatric epilepsy center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC), the highest level of designation available. Children’s offers the most comprehensive pediatric epilepsy program in the region, bringing together experts from Neurology and Neurosurgery to diagnose, treat and manage symptoms of epilepsy and seizure disorders. Our services range from routine epilepsy care to advanced diagnostics and leading-edge surgical interventions for complex, drug-resistant epilepsy.

Because we are an accredited level 4 epilepsy center, you can trust that your child receives the best care possible. Specially trained providers — including neurologists, neurosurgeons, epileptologists and advanced practice providers — use the most advanced technology at our state-of-the-art facilities to provide a broad range of innovative surgical interventions, treatments and care.

Providers refer children to our clinics in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, and Sioux City, Iowa. There, patients receive a diagnosis and start of care for epilepsy and seizures.

NAEC Level 4 Epilepsy Center

Make An Appointment

Make An Appointment

Phone 402.955.5372

What Sets Children’s Epilepsy Care Apart?

  • Children’s Epilepsy Center is accredited by the NAEC as a level 4 epilepsy center. Level 4 epilepsy centers have the professional expertise and facilities to provide the highest level medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.
  • We have several epileptologists on staff. Our epileptologists are neurologists who sub-specialize in diagnosing and treating patients with epilepsy.
  • Our providers collaborate across specialties, including Neuropsychology, Neurodiagnostics, Radiology, Genetics, Nutrition, Social Work and more, resulting in more complete diagnostic and treatment services.
  • Our expanded Children’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) in Omaha, Nebraska, includes six dedicated rooms. Each room provides a safe and comfortable space for patients receiving seizure assessments or pre-surgical evaluations using advanced diagnostic technologies, such as video electroencephalograph (vEEG) monitoring equipment.
  • We are the leaders in epilepsy surgery, utilizing advanced technologies and minimally invasive techniques, such as:
    • Advanced neuro-imaging— Shows activity in the brain to help with diagnosis. One example is magnetoencephalography.
    • Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT)—A minimally invasive approach for treatment of epilepsy and brain tumors in children. Neurosurgeons use a small probe to direct a laser to treat tumors or seizure locations that are challenging to reach with conventional surgical intervention.
    • Stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG)—Helps map a child’s brain to precisely detect the source of seizures in a way that’s quicker and less invasive. Neurosurgeons implant thin electrodes through small holes in the skull to allow epileptologists to monitor and record seizure activity. Watch Ethan’s story to learn more about sEEG and the first case in Nebraska history using Leksell and ROSA technologies.
    • Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS)—Places implanted devices to prevent or disrupt seizures.
    • Robotic Surgery Assistant (ROSA)—A cutting-edge technology that enhances our ability to perform complex surgeries with utmost precision and minimally-invasive techniques, minimizing risks and improving patient outcomes.
Fast Facts

Children’s has the only pediatric program in the state offering laser interstitial thermal therapy.

Clinics

  • Drug Resistant Epilepsy (DRE) Clinic

    Additional evaluation and care are provided to patients with DRE or whose seizures do not successfully respond to
    anti-seizure medication therapy. Watch Beaudin’s story to learn more about this clinic.
  • Fast Access Neurology (FAN) and New Onset Seizure (NOS) Clinic

    Children’s provides FAN appointments within 30 days for urgent neurology patient referrals, including hospital follow-up. The clinic provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for children who recently began having seizures, and ensures patients and their families are educated on the child’s condition.
  • Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Events (PNEE) Clinic

    With functional neurological disorders, children experience neurological symptoms, such as movement or sensory symptoms, without known medical or neurological conditions. Psychogenic non-epileptic events are a type of FND that can cause behavioral events that resemble epileptic seizures, commonly due to emotional stress or trauma. Children’s Neurology and Behavioral Health work together to provide comprehensive care to patients experiencing FND or PNEE.
  • Keto Clinic

    Strict ketogenic diets are medically supervised for some infants and children with epilepsy and involve high fat and very low carbohydrate diets to produce ketones.

Patient Spotlight

Stella EMU

Stella’s Story

A First Step in Epilepsy Treatment

Watch Stella’s Story

Beaudin's Story

Beaudin’s Story: Innovation for Drug Resistant Epilepsy Patients

Game-changing collaboration gives 6-year-old Beaudin freedom from epileptic seizures. Read More

What To Do Next

For Patients

Your child will need a referral from your provider before you can schedule a visit at the Children’s Epilepsy Clinic. Once your provider has sent the referral, call 402.955.5372 to make an appointment.

For Referring Providers

The Physicians’ Priority Line is your 24-hour link to pediatric specialists at Children’s for emergency and urgent consults, physician-to-physician consults, admissions, and transport services. Call 855.850.KIDS (5437).

Learn more about referring patients.

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