Epilepsy Patient Restores Her Life After Cutting-Edge, Minimally-Invasive Procedure

Melanie Vandyke spent almost 15 years incapacitated by epileptic seizures that prevented her from driving, pursuing a career and living independently. But since undergoing an innovative, minimally-invasive procedure called MRI-guided laser ablation, Vandyke is looking forward to reclaiming her life. The operation destroyed a lesion on her right medial temporal lobe using light emanating from a thin probe inserted into her brain through a small hole in her skull. Neurosurgeon Adrian Laxton, MD, watched real-time MRI images during the procedure. The results of the surgery, which is only performed at 25 medical centers in the U.S., are favorable; most patients have been seizure-free since the operation. “Based on what we’ve seen so far, it’s at least as effective as open surgery, is far superior in terms of risk and adverse effects and is minimally invasive,” says Dr. Laxton.  Since operation, 37- year-old Vandyke has been looking forward to getting her driver’s license. “You have to be seizure-free for six months to get a license,” she said. “I’m halfway there and counting the days.” Click here to read the full story.