UAE's first diagnostic procedure pinpointing epileptic brain seizures performed

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has successfully performed the UAE’s first stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) procedure, a minimally invasive surgical technique that pinpoints the origins of hard-to-treat focal epileptic seizures within the brain.

The procedure, which involved the surgical implantation of thin electrodes in the brain to reach areas inaccessible with traditional techniques, was performed on a UAE National patient who has had epilepsy for more than 10 years.

Following surgery, the patient was subsequently monitored in a highly controlled environment at the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit for 10 days with the implanted leads in place, capturing the patient’s seizures and localised to a specific region in the brain - known as the epileptogenic zone.

An electric current was also administered through the implanted leads to trigger the patient’s specific seizures, further supporting the localisation of the area from which the seizures were arising.

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Dr Florian Roser, Institute Chair, Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: "If we cannot localise seizures with standard scalp EEG recording or other non-invasive imaging modalities, such as MRI, PET-CT, and ictal SPECT scans, then SEEG is necessary. This involves monitoring seizures from within the brain, as opposed to scalp monitoring. The challenge, however, lies in placing the electrodes deep within the brain without damaging vessels or critical structures. Our advanced software, unique in the UAE, integrates various imaging studies to plan the safest and most effective electrode placement."

The completion of the UAE’s first SEEG procedure marks a significant milestone for the country’s medical sector. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Neurological Institute is the first Level 4 Epilepsy Centre in the UAE and provides complex forms of intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring, as well as extensive medical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial treatments.