Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Refractory Epilepsy in Children: Indications and Experience at The Hospital for Sick Children

Overview

Journal Childs Nerv Syst

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2006 Jul 4

PMID 16816981

Citations 26

Authors

Mony Benifla

James T Rutka

William Logan

Elizabeth J Donner

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: The management of intractable epilepsy in children is a challenging problem. For those patients who do not respond to antiepileptic drugs and are not candidates for epilepsy surgery, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), can be a viable alternative for reducing seizure frequency. We have reviewed the historical and clinical background of VNS treatment. We also include our experience at The Hospital for Sick Children in children who underwent VNS implantation.

Methods: Forty-one children underwent VNS implantation for epilepsy over 6 years. After a mean follow-up of 31 months, 15 (38%) patients had a seizure frequency reduction of more than 90%. Fifteen (38%) children failed to respond to the VNS treatment. The device was removed in five children: in one, due to late infection; the other four could not tolerate the side effects of chronic VNS therapy. Two patients required reimplantation due to electrode failure. The most common side effects in our series were cough and vocal disturbances.

Conclusions: Our results show that VNS implantation can be a safe and effective alternative therapy for children with drug-resistant epilepsy who are not candidates for epilepsy surgery.

Citing Articles

Efficacy and Safety of Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome: A Scoping Review.

Samanta D Children (Basel). 2024; 11(8).

PMID: 39201840 PMC: 11352554. DOI: 10.3390/children11080905.

The Development of a New Vagus Nerve Simulation Electroceutical to Improve the Signal Attenuation in a Living Implant Environment.

Jo D, Lee H, Jang Y, Oh P, Kwon Y Sensors (Basel). 2024; 24(10).

PMID: 38794024 PMC: 11125165. DOI: 10.3390/s24103172.

Vagus nerve stimulator revision in pediatric epilepsy patients: a technical note and case series.

LoPresti M, Huang J, Shlobin N, Curry D, Weiner H, Lam S Childs Nerv Syst. 2022; 39(2):435-441.

PMID: 36434283 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-022-05769-0.

Comparison of traditional and closed loop vagus nerve stimulation for treatment of pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy: A propensity-matched retrospective cohort study.

Muthiah N, Akwayena E, Vodovotz L, Sharma N, Jeong J, White G Seizure. 2021; 94:74-81.

PMID: 34872020 PMC: 11423706. DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.11.016.

Vagus nerve stimulation for pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy between 3 and 6 years of age: study protocol for a double-blind, randomized control trial.

Ji T, Yang Z, Liu Q, Liao J, Yin F, Chen Y Trials. 2019; 20(1):44.

PMID: 30642370 PMC: 6332620. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-018-3087-4.

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