title: Vagus nerve stimulator in patients with epilepsy: indications and recommendations for use.
abstract: Epilepsy comprises a set of neurologic and systemic disorders characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures, and is the most frequent chronic neurologic disorder. In patients with medically refractory epilepsy, therapeutic options are limited to ablative brain surgery, trials of experimental antiepileptic drugs, or palliative surgery. Vagal nerve stimulation is an available palliative procedure of which the mechanism of action is not understood, but with established efficacy for medically refractory epilepsy and low incidence of side-effects. In this paper we discuss the recommendations for VNS use as suggested by the Brazilian League of Epilepsy and the Scientific Department of Epilepsy of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology Committee of Neuromodulation.
authors.affiliation: Comissão de Neuromodulação, Liga Brasileira de Epilepsia, Brasil, São PauloSP.
authors.forename: Vera C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Terra
authors.affiliation: Comissão de Neuromodulação, Liga Brasileira de Epilepsia, Brasil, São PauloSP.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: Comissão de Neuromodulação, Liga Brasileira de Epilepsia, Brasil, São PauloSP.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silvado
authors.affiliation: Comissão de Neuromodulação, Liga Brasileira de Epilepsia, Brasil, São PauloSP.
authors.forename: Andrea Julião de
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Comissão de Neuromodulação, Liga Brasileira de Epilepsia, Brasil, São PauloSP.
authors.forename: Carmen Lisa
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.affiliation: Comissão de Neuromodulação, Liga Brasileira de Epilepsia, Brasil, São PauloSP.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faveret
authors.affiliation: Comissão de Neuromodulação, Liga Brasileira de Epilepsia, Brasil, São PauloSP.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ragazzo
authors.affiliation: Comissão de Neuromodulação, Liga Brasileira de Epilepsia, Brasil, São PauloSP.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Paola
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*