Neurosurgery Outpatient Program

The Neurosurgery Program, part of the Outpatient Surgical Specialty Center at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, provides surgical intervention for a variety of brain and spinal cord disorders and injuries. Some of these disorders include brain tumors, spina bifida, hydrocephalus and epilepsy.

Clinical Evaluation & Treatment

Children ages birth through 21 years of age receive a comprehensive care plan that manages a child’s symptoms from diagnosis to treatment by a specialized neurosurgery care team. Some common tests performed include intracranial pressure monitoring and quantitative EEG.

• Intracranial Pressure Monitoring
  Intracranial pressure monitoring is a device placed inside the head, which senses the pressure and sends its measurements to a recording device. This measures the intracranial pressure and determines if the child is at risk for developing injury from increased intracranial pressure. It is also meant to provide a sterile access for draining excess cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).
• Quantitative EEG
  Quantitative EEG is a scientifically established method for evaluating brain function based on brain electrical activity mapping. In this form of functional brain imaging, the child's brain electrical activity is analyzed using complex mathematical and statistical tools in comparison to norms or averages.

Some conditions may be controlled through medications or rehabilitation therapies. In more complex cases, neursurgery is required.

Neurosurgical Care

Many times surgical care is needed to help stop or lessen disease associated with the brain and spinal cord. Miller Children’s neurosurgeons work closely with other pediatric sub-specialists at Miller Children’s for consult on their surgical cases. Most of the neurosurgical care is done in the Surgical Center at Miller Children’s.

Follow-Up Care

Most patients will be asked to complete post-operative follow-up care at the Neurosurgery Center to ensure that there are no complications from the surgery and that the patient is recovering well. This typically happens in the two to three weeks following the surgery. Follow-up visits are generally continued until the child is ready to seek follow-up care at other outpatient centers that are specialized the child’s specific condition or until care can be returned to the primary care physician.

Visit the Neurosurgery Outpatient Clinic.