title: Improving the lives of patients with medically refractory epilepsy by electrical stimulation of the nervous system.
abstract: Vagal nerve stimulation proved effective in animal models of epilepsy, and in open and double-blinded trials, in over 450 patients. Seizure reduction improved for at least 2 years. Almost 50% of treated patients achieve at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency. Other advantages include termination of a seizure and improved alertness. Benefits were demonstrated in children, partial and generalized epilepsies, and in specific neurologic syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. jmurphy@cmh.edu
authors.forename: Jerome V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Arun Angelo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Patil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004285:Dogs; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*