NYMC Faculty Publications
Guidelines for Specialized Epilepsy Centers: Executive Summary of the Report of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers Guideline Panel
Author Type(s)
Faculty
DOI
10.1212/WNL.0000000000208087
Journal Title
Neurology
First Page
e208087
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2024
Department
Neurosurgery
Abstract
The National Association of Epilepsy Centers first published the guidelines for epilepsy centers in 1990, which were last updated in 2010. Since that update, epilepsy care and the science of guideline development have advanced significantly, including the importance of incorporating a diversity of stakeholder perspectives such as those of patients and their caregivers. Currently, despite extensive published data examining the efficacy of treatments and diagnostic testing for epilepsy, there remain significant gaps in data identifying the essential services needed for a comprehensive epilepsy center and the optimal manner for their delivery. The trustworthy consensus-based statements (TCBS) process produces unbiased, scientifically valid guidelines through a transparent process that incorporates available evidence and expert opinion. A systematic literature search returned 5937 relevant studies from which 197 articles were retained for data extraction. A panel of 41 stakeholders with diverse expertise evaluated this evidence and drafted recommendations following the TCBS process. The panel reached consensus on 52 recommendations covering services provided by specialized epilepsy centers in both the inpatient and outpatient settings in major topic areas including epilepsy monitoring unit care, surgery, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, genetics, and outpatient care. Recommendations were informed by the evidence review and reflect the consensus of a broad panel of expert opinions.
Recommended Citation
Lado, F. A., Ahrens, S. M., Riker, E., Muh, C. R., Richardson, R. M., Gray, J., Small, B., Lewis, S. Z., Schofield, T. J., Clarke, D. F., Hopp, J. L., Lee, R. R., Salpekar, J. A., & Arnold, S. T. (2024). Guidelines for Specialized Epilepsy Centers: Executive Summary of the Report of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers Guideline Panel. Neurology, 102 (4), e208087. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000208087