title: Ventricular asystole during vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy in humans.
abstract: Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, a recently available option for patients with refractory epilepsy, has demonstrated safety and efficacy. We report four patients with refractory epilepsy who experienced ventricular asystole intraoperatively during initial testing for implantation of the vagus nerve stimulator. Acute intraoperative vagus nerve stimulation may create ventricular asystole in humans. Extracorporeal cervical vagus nerve stimulation testing with continuous EKG monitoring intraoperatively before generator implantation is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida, USA. WOTIV@aol.com
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Tatum
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Stecker
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Baltuch
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Labar
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Vale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology*