Vagus nerve stimulator in patients with epilepsy: indications and recommendations for use.

Abstract

Epilepsy comprises a set of neurologic and systemic disorders characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures, and is the most frequent chronic neurologic disorder. In patients with medically refractory epilepsy, therapeutic options are limited to ablative brain surgery, trials of experimental antiepileptic drugs, or palliative surgery. Vagal nerve stimulation is an available palliative procedure of which the mechanism of action is not understood, but with established efficacy for medically refractory epilepsy and low incidence of side-effects. In this paper we discuss the recommendations for VNS use as suggested by the Brazilian League of Epilepsy and the Scientific Department of Epilepsy of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology Committee of Neuromodulation.

• Authors: Vera C Terra, Ricardo Amorim, Carlos Silvado, Andrea Julião de Oliveira, Carmen Lisa Jorge, Eduardo Faveret, Paulo Ragazzo, Luciano De Paola
• Journal: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria (Arq Neuropsiquiatr) Vol. 71 Issue 11 Pg. 902-6 (Nov 2013) ISSN: 1678-4227 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 24394879 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Practice Guideline)

Topics

• Brazil
• Epilepsy (therapy)
• Humans
• Palliative Care (standards)
• Societies, Medical
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (adverse effects, standards)