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NeuroCare Brain & Spine Center™ - Epilepsy Center
What is Wada Testing...
The Wada Test or “intracarotid amobarbital procedure” is part of the
pre-surgical evaluation of epilepsy. It was named after Dr. Juhn A. Wada who
introduced the procedure in 1949. During the Wada test, each cerebral hemisphere
(half of the brain) is anesthetized separately with “amobarbital” or “sodium
amytal” to allow for testing of the opposite (side without anesthesia)
hemisphere.
This procedure can establish which hemisphere (side of the brain) is dominant for language and can
determine if a single hemisphere can support memory function. Results from Wada
testing and the neuropsychological evaluation can provide important information
regarding cognitive and seizure outcome.
What is involved with this procedure…
- Electrodes will be placed on your scalp so that an EEG recording can be
done during Wada testing.
- An IV is started and blood work is done.
- Baseline language and memory testing are completed. Memory is tested by
showing eight objects to the patient to remember. After that, we test basic
language functions such as comprehension (understanding), naming, repetition
and reading. After language testing is finished, the patient is shown the
eight objects mixed in with a group of 16 objects to see if the patient can
selectively recognize any of the memory objects. This brief memory and
language assessment is repeated twice more during the actual Wada test.
- After baseline testing of memory and language, a cerebral angiogram is
done. Cerebral angiography is a way of taking x-ray pictures of the arteries
in the brain. X-ray dye in injected into the arteries through a catheter.
This allows them to be seen on x-rays.
- Wada testing begins after the angiogram is completed. Amobarbital is
given via the catheter to put half of the brain to sleep for approximately
10 minutes. During that brief time, we show eight new objects and then test
your language functions again. Once the medications have worn off and your
EEG, language and motor functions have returned to normal, we test your
recall and recognition of the objects.
- Wada testing continues as the other half of the brain is put to sleep
and the whole memory and language procedure is repeated using eight
different objects for the memory testing. The angiogram and Wada testing
take approximately two hours. The neuroradiologist, neurologist,
interventional radiology technician, EEG technician, neuropsychologist and
psychometrist are all present during your testing.
- After the Wada test is done, the patient is monitored closely for 4-6
hours until he/she is discharged later that day after a post-monitoring
recovery period. During this recovery period, the neuropsychologist reviews
the results of the Wada test with the patient and his/her family.
NeuroCare Brain and Spine Center™
(920) 288-8020
Toll-free (877) 577-5800
2845 Greenbrier Road
P.O. Box 8900
Green Bay, WI 54308-8900
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