Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy: Indications, Programing, and Outcomes

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy: Indications, Programing, and Outcomes

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) provides palliation of seizure reduction for patients with medically refractory epilepsy. VNS is indicated for symptomatic localization-related epilepsy with multiple and bilateral independent foci, symptomatic generalized epilepsy with diffuse epileptogenic abnormalities, refractory idiopathic generalized epilepsy, failed intracranial epilepsy surgery, and other s...

Vagus nerve stimulation therapy

Over the past 5 years, and especially within the last year, there has been a rapid expansion of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)-related preclinical research, as well as clinical studies in indications other than epilepsy. The research advances in understanding VNS are occurring in the midst of a blossoming of other forms of therapeutic brain stimulation, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), t...

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy for Epilepsy

[Vagus nerve stimulation therapy for epilepsy].

Vagus nerve stimulation is a palliative treatment for medically intractable epilepsy. This treatment reduces the frequency and severity of seizures refractory to antiepileptic drugs. Implanted generator and helical electrodes electrically stimulate the left vagus nerve at the neck chronically and intermittently. This was the first electrostimulation therapy clinically introduced for epilepsy. T...

Vagus nerve stimulation therapy for seizures.

Of the 3 million patients with seizures in North America approximately 70% have effective seizure control with medications. In the group refractory to medical treatment only a minority fit the criteria for surgical therapy. Vagus nerve stimulation therapy seems to be a suitable nonpharmacologic therapy for reducing seizure frequency in these cases. It is a simple device with 2 electrodes and an...