title: Vagus nerve stimulation therapy for treatment-resistant epilepsy: a 15-year experience at a single institution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE) occurs in 20-30% of patients. The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in this group of patients, including adult and pediatric populations and several off-label indications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of 59 consecutive patients in whom 60 VNS devices were implanted at a single institution during a 15-year period. Patients were evaluated in the Multidisciplinary Epilepsy Committee and complete presurgical workup was performed. The series included indications not approved by the FDA, such as children under 12 years of age, pregnancy and right-sided VNS. Performing the procedure on an out-patient basis was recently adopted, minimizing hospital length of stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 42 adults and 17 children (14 under 12 years of age) and the mean age at implantation was 26 years. Duration of VNS therapy ranged from 6 months to 9 years. For the entire cohort, the mean percentage seizure reduction was 31.37%. Twenty patients (34.48%) were considered responders (seizure reduction ≥50%); 7 patients (12.06%) had seizure reduction of ≥75% and 2 patients had seizure control of ≥90% (3.4%). The patient in whom right-sided VNS was implanted achieved the same reduction in seizure burden and the patient who became pregnant could reduce antiepileptic drugs dosage, without complications. Side-effects were mild and there were no permanent nerve injuries. One patient died in the follow-up due to psychiatric disorders previously known.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VNS is a safe and effective palliative treatment for TRE patients. There are an increasing number of indications and further randomized trials would potentially expand the number of patients who may benefit from it. A multidisciplinary team is crucial for a complete preoperative evaluation and selection of the optimal candidates for the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain. Electronic address: lara.galbarriatugutierrez@osakidetza.net.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galbarriatu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pomposo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aurrecoechea
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marinas
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agúndez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Acera
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropediatrics, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maestro
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mateos
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iturri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garamendi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Off-label indications; Pregnancy; Right-sided VNS; Treatment-resistant epilepsy; Vagus nerve stimulation