Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Experts at SEHA's Tawam Hospital in Al Ain have successfully treated an eight-year-old patient suffering from severe drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), which caused her more than 100 seizures each day and significantly affected her development and quality of life.
The patient had continued to experience frequent seizures despite receiving anti-seizure medication (ASM), placing a substantial burden on her daily life and on her family. The frequency of the episodes affected her ability to engage safely in routine childhood activities, and required a specialised assessment by SEHA’s Tawam Hospital paediatric neurology team.
The clinical team conducted a comprehensive evaluation that included electroencephalography (EEG), a painless test that records the brain’s electrical activity, magnetic resonance imaging, and genetic testing to better understand the nature of the seizures and guide a personalised treatment plan. Following the assessment, the wider care team considered additional options for epilepsy that had not responded adequately to medication alone, while the clinical pharmacy team optimised the patient’s medication regimen to support the most effective and appropriate treatment approaches.
As part of the treatment pathway, the patient underwent implantation of a vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device. VNS is an adjunctive treatment that delivers regular mild electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, which may help reduce seizure frequency and severity in selected patients with DRE.
The treatment plan was delivered through coordinated multidisciplinary care, with ongoing monitoring and follow-up to assess the patient’s response and adjust treatment where required. Based on her current clinical status, the patient is no longer experiencing seizures and has begun gradually returning to activities appropriate for her age.
Dr Anil Vasudev Israni, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at SEHA’s Tawam Hospital, said: “Children with DRE require careful assessment because seizures may continue despite the use of multiple medications. A comprehensive evaluation helps us understand the type of epilepsy, identify the most appropriate treatment options and develop a plan tailored to the child’s clinical needs.”
Dr Vasudev added: “VNS does not replace medication or produce the same outcome for every patient, but it can provide an important additional treatment option for selected children whose seizures remain difficult to control. In this case, the response has been encouraging, and the patient’s progress has had a meaningful impact on her daily life and her family.”
The case reflects the importance of multidisciplinary paediatric epilepsy care, combining specialised neurology expertise, diagnostic evaluation, medication management, surgical support, and structured follow-up. It also highlights how access to personalised treatment locally can support children and families living with complex neurological conditions.
SEHA’s Tawam Hospital continues to strengthen its individualised paediatric neurology services for children with complex epilepsy and other neurological conditions. Through personalised care pathways and close collaboration across disciplines, the hospital supports early assessment, informed treatment decisions and long-term follow-up focused on each child’s development, safety and quality of life.
