Vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of intractable epilepsy

Abstract

Vagus nerve stimulation is a safe and reliable treatment adjunct for patients with medically intractable epilepsy. It is both a preventive and abortive form of therapy, potentially effective against both partial and generalized seizures in adults and children. Vagus nerve stimulation also has a number of serendipitous effects on mood, memory and attention, and has been approved for the treatment of refractory depression. Owing to its pleiotropic effects, it also holds promise for several other diseases. Its principal limitations are its unknown mechanism of action, the low likelihood of complete cure and the inability to predict which patients will derive substantial benefit. This article reviews the theoretical rationale, practical background and clinical applications of vagus nerve stimulation therapy.

Keywords::

• depression
• epilepsy
• neurostimulation
• seizure
• vagus nerve stimulation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.