J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2005 May;13(1):8-14.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation In Intractable Pediatric Epilepsy Patients

• You SJ
• Kim DS
• Lee JK
• Ko TS

Abstract

PURPOSE: We intended to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and effects on quality of life of vagus nerve stimulation(VNS) in children with intractable epilepsy.
METHODS
We retrospectively studied the medical records of 7 pediatric patients who underwent VNS implantation between December 2001 and April 2003.
RESULTS
The ages at operation ranged from 6 years and 5 months to 11 years and 9 months. The duration of follow-ups ranged from 12 months to 44 months. All the patients had intractable seizures, in four of whom the epilepsy was symptomatic. Of the 4 patients, three had history of meningoencephalitis and one had pachygyria. 5 patients(71 %) had 50% or more reduction in seizure frequency and the onset of seizure reduction occurred within 3 months after VNS implantation. Seizure reduction of more than 50% was observed in head drop and atypical absence seizure(1/1, 100%, one with callosotomy), generalized tonic clonic seizure(3/4, 75%) and complex partial seizure(1/2, 50%). In 4 patients there were improvements in quality of life such as alertness, mood, verbal communication and motor function. Side effects were transient hoarseness in four patients and wound infection in one patient, but these were not too severe to lerate.
CONCLUSION
VNS is an effective and safe adjunctive therapy in intractable pediatric epilepsy as wall as in improving quality of life.

Keyword

Vagus nerve stimulation; Intractable seizure

MeSH Terms

Child
Epilepsy*
Follow-Up Studies
Head
Hoarseness
Humans
Lissencephaly
Medical Records
Meningoencephalitis
Quality of Life
Retrospective Studies
Seizures
Vagus Nerve Stimulation*
Vagus Nerve*
Wound Infection