Outcome measurement after vagal nerve stimulation therapy: proposal of a new classification.
OBJECTIVE
Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is an adjunctive palliative therapy for refractory epilepsy. Effects of treatment are varied and some, such as the use of an external magnet for seizure termination, are unique to VNS. No accepted standard exists for outcome measurement after VNS treatment. We present a novel classification for outcome, which includes assessment of both seizure frequency and severity in VNS-treated patients.


METHODS
We devised a classification system modeled on the Engel classification for surgically treated patients, but tailored for use in VNS therapy, which incorporates five classes of outcome. We retrospectively reviewed VNS-treated patients in our centre, and used the data to illustrate our system and compare it with the Engel model.


RESULTS
With this system, 48 patients (mean age, 30 years) were followed up over a median of 18 months. Seventy-eight percent had partial epilepsy. Sixteen and a half percent experienced class I outcome (>80% seizure-frequency reduction). Twenty percent had class II improvement (50-79% seizure-frequency reduction). One-third had no improvement (class V). The remaining patients comprised class III (seizure-frequency reduction <50%) or class IV (magnet benefit alone) outcomes. Class I-III outcomes were further subdivided according to effects on ictal or postictal severity.


CONCLUSIONS
We propose a new classification, which can be used for all epilepsies and which reflects outcome measures beyond seizure-frequency reduction alone. Use of this system would allow greater comparison between future studies of VNS therapy.
McHugh
John C
JC
Department of Neurology, Beaumount Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Singh
Harsh W
HW
Phillips
Jack
J
Murphy
Kevin
K
Doherty
Colin P
CP
Delanty
Norman
N
D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*