title: Refractory status epilepticus treated with vagal nerve stimulation:  case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Status epilepticus (SE) refractory to medical treatment has a high mortality rate and few effective treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the implantation of a vagal nerve stimulator to help terminate a case of refractory SE. A 23-year-old man was in SE for 3 weeks without being able to be weaned from intravenous anesthetic agents. After implantation of a vagal nerve stimulator, SE soon terminated, and the patient could be weaned from sedative agents and made a full recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vagal nerve stimulator should be considered in cases of refractory SE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA. boneill35@gmail.com
authors.forename: Brent R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valeriano
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Synowiec
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thielmann
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilberger
mesh_terms: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001463:Barbiturates