Riyadh, August (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 26 أغسطس 2025ء) According to a recent KFSHRC press release, the Epilepsy Center has treated more than 4,000 patients and performed over 2,000 epilepsy surgeries for individuals unresponsive to medication since 1993. In the past two years, it has launched the Stereo-EEG program as a minimally invasive, advanced diagnostic tool that improves seizure localization and reduces complications.
The technique represents a transformative advancement in treating drug-resistant epilepsy, enabling precise identification of seizure foci and supporting tailored treatment plans such as targeted resection or neurostimulation implants that restore independence and improve quality of life for many patients.
The procedure involves placing ultra-thin electrodes through millimeter-sized openings in the skull to precisely localize seizure foci, thereby minimizing risks associated with traditional open surgery and enabling treatment strategies that have helped the majority of patients achieve full seizure control and regain independence. This innovation also reduces long-term healthcare costs by lowering reliance on expensive anti-seizure medications with significant side effects, while helping patients return to work faster and reducing productivity losses.
According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide, with 30% of patients resistant to medication, a condition that severely impacts their ability to work, drive, and maintain daily activities, making surgery the only viable option to restore their quality of life.
The release added that this milestone reflects KFSHRC’s vision of advancing neurosciences by leveraging state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical technologies in treating drug-resistant epilepsy, reinforcing its role as a leader in medical innovation, and supporting the Kingdom’s global standing in specialized healthcare.
The KFSHRC has been ranked first in the middle East and North Africa and 15th globally in the list of the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centers for the second consecutive year and has been recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to the 2025 Brand Finance rankings. Additionally, it was included in Newsweek magazine’s 2025 list of the World’s Best Smart Hospitals.
