Vagal nerve stimulation: adjustments to reduce painful side effects.
Vagal nerve stimulation is an approved adjunctive treatment for medically intractable epilepsy. Although it is generally well tolerated, some patients experience pain, coughing, or hoarseness during stimulation. Lowering the pulse width in these patients alleviates pain and reduces voice alteration without loss of efficacy. This allows more optimal programming of stimulation intensities.
Liporace
J
J
Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Joyce.Liporace@mail.tju.edu
Hucko
D
D
Morrow
R
R
Barolat
G
G
Nei
M
M
Schnur
J
J
Sperling
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003371:Cough / Q000517:prevention & control; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology