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WADA testing

Sat, 08/13/2005 - 23:39

I am having a Wada test in a few weeks. I dont know what to expect other than the vague and somewhat scary description I have read from my doctors. Has anyone been through this teat who can tell me what to expect?

Winders

Comments

RE: WADA testing

Submitted by ellgee on Sat, 2005-08-13 - 20:27

http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/surgery_wada.html

http://www.epilepsy.com/stories/ps_1066695659.html

http://www.epilepsy.com/pubmed/pubmed.php?article=15976238

 

I posted a couple links you may want to visit.  Hopefully the moderators will also see your post, they frequently can list many good links on a topic.

http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/surgery_wada.html

http://www.epilepsy.com/stories/ps_1066695659.html

http://www.epilepsy.com/pubmed/pubmed.php?article=15976238

 

I posted a couple links you may want to visit.  Hopefully the moderators will also see your post, they frequently can list many good links on a topic.

RE: WADA testing

Submitted by grez-monkey on Sat, 2005-08-13 - 23:39

Winders,

I have the personal, 'hands-on' experience of WADA testing. How? Because I just went through one back in January last year 2004.

If you have already gone through many other tests (EEG, MRI, CT, etc..etc.) and the results located the area where your seizures are starting, which is called the seizure focus, then the medical team might be in the process to see how good, or how bad, it can be to preform actual surgery. My WADA test was done prior to starting the pre-surgical EEG / brain mapping. The worst part I felt was due to where the needle is inserted, the inner side of my right leg just below the groin.

Just an additional website other then the ones posted on message #2 above.

What is a Wada test?

Most epilepsy patients considering surgery undergo the Wada (WAH-dah) test first. This test is officially known as the intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure (ISAP), but the nickname "Wada test" is commonly used. The name comes from the physician who first performed it, Dr. Juhn Wada.

The Wada test looks at language and memory on one side of the brain at a time. Language (speech) is controlled by one side of the brain, and the Wada will tell the doctors which side controls language in your brain. Memory can be controlled by both sides of the brain; the Wada tells which side of your brain has better memory. If the side that controls language or has better memory is where your seizures may be coming from, the surgeon may consider performing an fMRI or brain mapping before surgery.

There's alot more described from this same website about the WADA test, such as Who performs the test?  What happens during the Wada test?  How long does the test take?  Is the Wada safe?  What is it like to have a Wada? .........and it is located at http://nyumc.net/public_html/epilepsy_20031016/wada_test.htm

Bruce (link-guy)

Winders,

I have the personal, 'hands-on' experience of WADA testing. How? Because I just went through one back in January last year 2004.

If you have already gone through many other tests (EEG, MRI, CT, etc..etc.) and the results located the area where your seizures are starting, which is called the seizure focus, then the medical team might be in the process to see how good, or how bad, it can be to preform actual surgery. My WADA test was done prior to starting the pre-surgical EEG / brain mapping. The worst part I felt was due to where the needle is inserted, the inner side of my right leg just below the groin.

Just an additional website other then the ones posted on message #2 above.

What is a Wada test?

Most epilepsy patients considering surgery undergo the Wada (WAH-dah) test first. This test is officially known as the intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure (ISAP), but the nickname "Wada test" is commonly used. The name comes from the physician who first performed it, Dr. Juhn Wada.

The Wada test looks at language and memory on one side of the brain at a time. Language (speech) is controlled by one side of the brain, and the Wada will tell the doctors which side controls language in your brain. Memory can be controlled by both sides of the brain; the Wada tells which side of your brain has better memory. If the side that controls language or has better memory is where your seizures may be coming from, the surgeon may consider performing an fMRI or brain mapping before surgery.

There's alot more described from this same website about the WADA test, such as Who performs the test?  What happens during the Wada test?  How long does the test take?  Is the Wada safe?  What is it like to have a Wada? .........and it is located at http://nyumc.net/public_html/epilepsy_20031016/wada_test.htm

Bruce (link-guy)

RE: RE: WADA testing

Submitted by bubbymama on Mon, 2005-08-15 - 05:56
Hey guys, Bruce, thanks for the info. Winders, I was wondering about the WADA test myself; I am in pre-surgical mode right now also. My epileptologist mentioned me having one done too last visit I had with him, and so you and I will probably go through this test together!!! What he explained to me (aside from the info Bruce and the others gave you) is that a catheter is inserted, and in layman's terms, the test is used to basically "numb" one side of the brain, while they test you on the other, and then vice versa. I'm a little nervous about the test myself, but then again we're talking about brain surgery, so whatever test they need to do before they invade my skull is OK with me!Keep me updated; I will be very interested in this thread for the same reasons you are! Take care ~Megan

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