Quality of life and seizure outcome after vagus nerve stimulation in children with intractable epilepsy.
This study examined the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on quality of life in children with epilepsy using a validated quality-of-life scale and an empirical technique that accounts for measurement error in assessing individual change (the reliable change index). Participants were 34 children with severe intractable epilepsy who underwent vagus nerve stimulation and 19 children with intractable epilepsy who received medical management. Parent-completed epilepsy-specific and global ratings at baseline and after 1 year indicated that most children had no changes in quality of life following vagus nerve stimulation (52%-77%), similar to the comparison group. There was a trend for decreases to be less common in the vagus nerve stimulation group (14% vs 37%, P < .07), but there was no relation between improved quality of life and seizure control. The results raise questions about the mechanisms that underlie changes in quality of life after vagus nerve stimulation in this group of children.
Sherman
Elisabeth M S
EM
Neurosciences Program, Alberta Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. elisabeth.sherman@calgaryhealthregion.ca
Connolly
Mary B
MB
Slick
Daniel J
DJ
Eyrl
Kim L
KL
Steinbok
Paul
P
Farrell
Kevin
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D017833:Visceral Afferents / Q000502:physiology