Scientific Program - Epilepsy

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Please see below the CONy Scientific Program. Please click on the appropriate section (ordered by ABC) to view the relevant program. Please note that the program and timing is subject to change. To view the program timetable, please click here
 

Section Heads: Thanos Covanis, Greece & Michael Sperling, USA
FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017
 Hall B
9:10-11:00
DIAGNOSIS OF EPILEPSY
Chairs: Hadassa Goldberg Stern, Israel; Andriy Dubenko, Ukraine
09:10-10:05 Debate: Should we give a diagnosis of epilepsy to someone who has had only one seizure?
Capsule:
The fundamental concept of epilepsy has been a tendency to seizures recurrence, demonstrated by an individual experiencing at least two seizures. Should this definition be altered as recommended by the ILAE to allow the diagnosis after a single seizure if there is a high probability of recurrence, or, given the plethora of potentially adverse social consequences of such a diagnosis, is it better to wait for a second seizure?
9:10-09:20 Host: Thanos Covanis, Greece
9:20-09:35
One seizure is enough: Alla Guekht, Russia
9:35-09:50 No: William Theodore, USA
9:50-10:05 Discussion and rebuttals

10:05-11:00
Capsule: The gold standard for diagnosis of psychogenic seizures has been to obtain EEG and video with testing during an attack. However, are certain behaviors pathognomonic for psychogenic non-epileptic seizures such that simultaneous video-EEG recording is unnecessary and redundant?
10:05-10:15 Host: Miri Neufeld, Israel
10:15-10:30 Behavior may be enough: Joanna Jedrzejczak, Poland
10:30-10:45 Never: Manjari Tripathi, India
10:45-11:00
 Discussion and rebuttals

11:15-13:10 TREATMENT AND PROGNOSIS OF EPILEPSY
Chair: Vassiios Kimiskidis, Greece; Vladimir Donath, Slovakia
11:15-12:15 Debate: Does generic drug substitution pose risk in epilepsy?
Capsule: Generic antiepileptic drugs are less expensive than brand name medication and reduce health care expenditure. Does bioequivalence translate to therapeutic equivalence, so that it is safe to substitute one generic for another or a brand name medication?
11:15-11:25
Host: Michael Sperling, USA
11:25-11:40 Yes: Martin Holtkamp, UK
11:40-11:55 No: William Theodore, USA
11:55-12:15 Discussion and rebuttals

12:15-13:10
 Debate: Can medical marijuana or cannabidiol be recommended for treatment of epilepsy?
Capsule:
Marijuana has achieved popular recognition as a treatment for epilepsy, and many
government jurisdictions have approved its use. What is the quality of the evidence, and should we advise marijuana or cannabidiol for people whose seizures remain uncontrolled by conventional drugs?
12:15-12:25
Host: Thanos Covanis, Greece
12:25-12:40 Yes: Martin Brodie, UK
12:40-12:55 No: Elinor Ben-Menachem, Sweden
12:55-13:10 Discussion and rebuttals

15:00-17:00
EPILEPSY THERAPY AND ITS WITHDRAWAL
Chair: Stelianos Giannakodimos, Greece; Halina Sienkiewicz Jarosz, Poland 
15:00-16:00 Debate: Should we treat electrographic subclinical seizures?
Capsule: It is common to observe subclinical electrographic seizures in people with epilepsy and in the intensive care unit. If these are subclinical, do they merit treatment? What is the evidence that they pose harm?
15:00-15:10
Host: Martin Holtkamp, UK
15:10-15:25 To treat: Ilan Blatt, Israel
15:25-15:40 Not always: Konrad Rejdak, Poland
15:40-16:00
 Discussion and rebuttals
16:00-17:00 Debate: Should antiepileptic drugs usually be withdrawn after 2 years of seizure freedom?
 Capsule: Whether antiepileptic drugs should be withdrawn after a period of seizure freedom is controversial.   Advantages of drug withdrawal include elimination of short term and long term adverse drug effects, but seizure recurrence also poses risk.  Under what circumstances, if any, should drugs be withdrawn or continued?
16:00-16:10
Host: Elinor Ben-Menachem, Sweden
16:10-16:25 Yes: Ilan Blatt, Israel
16:25-16:40 No: Michael Sperling, USA
16:40-17:00 Discussion and rebuttals

17:00-17:15
Coffee Break
 
17:15-19:00 EPILEPSY: UNRESOLVED AND INTERESTING   
Chairs: Alexandros Agathonikou, Greece; Željka Petelin Gadže, Croatia
17:15-18:10 Debate: Should valproate ever be prescribed to women of childbearing age?
Capsule:
Valproate has been associated with fetal malformations and cognitive impairment in offspring of women who took this agent while pregnant. On the other hand, it is a remarkably effective drug for some types of epilepsy. Does its superior efficacy warrant its use in women who may become pregnant?
17:15-17:25
Host: Alla Guekht, Russia
17:25-17:40
Can be used in several cases: Martin Brodie, UK
17:40-17:55 Never: Ivan Rektor, Czech Republic
17:55-18:10
 Discussion and rebuttals

18:10-19:00
Case Studies
Michael Sperling and faculty: Ben Menachem, Blatt, Covanis, Guehkt, Holtkamp, & Neufeld

SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
 HALL B
7:00-7:55 E-Poster Presentations (Epilepsy, Alzheimers, Rehabilitation, Sleep, & Miscellaneous)
   
8:00-10:00
EPILEPSY: PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT

Chairs: Anna Mouzak, Greece; Nandan Yardi, India
8:00-8:40 The importance of cardiovascular fitness in the prevention and treatment of epilepsy and co-morbidities
Elinor Ben-Menachem, Sweden
8:40-9:20
Do antiepileptic drug trials adequately measure Efficacy and Adverse Effects?
Michael Sperling, USA
9:20-10:00
SEEG vs. subdural EEG implantation
Elson So, USA

10:00-10:30 Coffee Break

10:30-12:30
EPILEPSY: NEUROSTIMULATION
Chairs: Antigone Papavasiliou, Greece; Elson So, USA
10:30-11:30 Debate: Is responsive stimulation, either by recording from heart or brain, superior to non-responsive stimulation?
Capsule: Stimulation can be given at automatic, prescribed intervals irrespective of ongoing brain signals or in response to specific alterations in the EEG. Does the evidence support the superiority of one type of stimulation over the other?
10:30-10:40
Host: Martin Holtkamp, Germany
10:40-10:55
Pro Responsive Stimulation: Albert Colon, The Netherlands
10:55-11:10
 Con: Michael Sperling, USA
11:10-11:30 Discussion and rebuttals

11:30-12:30 Debate: Neurostimulation should be used early in the treatment of epilepsy once medication resistance is apparent, after failure of 2-3 drugs.
11:30-11:40 Host: Ivan Rektor, Czech Republic
11:40-11:55 Pro: Albert Colon, The Netherlands
11:55-12:10 Con: Ilan Blatt, Israel
12:10-12:30 Discussion and rebuttals

13:00-13:30 POSTER AWARDS & CLOSING CEREMONY
Chairs: Amos D. Korczyn, Israel; Konstantinos Vadikolias, Greece