Vagal nerve stimulation in patients with refractory epilepsy. Effect on seizure frequency, severity and quality of life.
Vagal nerve stimulation using an NCP (Cyberonics) device has been suggested as a potential treatment for patients with epilepsy that has previously proven refractory. Ten patients in Northern Ireland have had this device implanted and been fully audited pre- and post-operatively. Twelve months post-implantation, five patients have demonstrated a greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency. A statistical reduction in seizure severity of the ictal phase of the major seizures has also been shown. Improvement in the patients' overall quality of life has, however, not been demonstrated in parallel to seizure reduction.
Morrow
J I
JI
Directorate of Neurosciences, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK.
Bingham
E
E
Craig
J J
JJ
Gray
W J
WJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014630:Vagus Nerve