Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for children with drug-resistant epilepsy: Retrospective study
Introduction: According to current investigations, there are controversy in our knowledge regarding the safety and efficacy of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) in children younger than 12 years old. Therefore, we performed this study and aimed to better evaluate the safety and efficacy of VNS in childr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Brain Disorders |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666459324000027 |
| _version_ | 1797249064348155904 |
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| author | Alireza Zali Farhad Mahvelati Bijan Herfedoust Biazar Fatemeh Sodeifian Setareh Akbari Meisam Akhlaghdoust |
| author_facet | Alireza Zali Farhad Mahvelati Bijan Herfedoust Biazar Fatemeh Sodeifian Setareh Akbari Meisam Akhlaghdoust |
| author_sort | Alireza Zali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: According to current investigations, there are controversy in our knowledge regarding the safety and efficacy of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) in children younger than 12 years old. Therefore, we performed this study and aimed to better evaluate the safety and efficacy of VNS in children younger than 12 years. Method: The retrospective study comprised two groups. In the first group, patients (N = 19) underwent VNS implantation procedure and second group, (N = 21) received no VNS implantation. The main study parameters are as follows: (1) Primary outcome evaluated the proportion of cases with >50 % reduction of seizures at the last follow-up. (2) Changes in patients’ status in VNS group after procedure compared to before procedure. (3) Patient's complaints in VNS group compared to control group. Results: Our results demonstrated that there was a significant reduction in the frequency of seizures (per month) in patients 6 months after VNS surgery compared to before VNS surgery (1044.3 ± 1526.7 VS 220.7 ± 421.6; P value = 0.028). 57.9 % of patients underwent VNS showed the response rate of 50 % reduction in seizure frequency. There was significant improvement in memory problem, work/ school limitation, social limitation, and tachycardia 6 months after VNS procedure compared to before VNS procedure in patients. The most common reported side effects were difficulty swallowing (31.5 %) and coughing (31.5 %) followed by stomach discomfort (15.8 %). Conclusion: Considering the significant reduction in the frequency of seizures and improvement of life aspects including in memory problem, work/ school limitation, social limitation, we recommend VNS as an effective treatment modality for drug-resistant epilepsy in children. However, the combination of VNS with other treatment modalities that could improve other aspects of quality such as energy levels, sleep pattern, and feeling management of life is recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:51:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-21a6f9b3ddee4126a38a2795a444f17f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-4593 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:24:32Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-21a6f9b3ddee4126a38a2795a444f17f2024-03-22T05:40:47ZengElsevierBrain Disorders2666-45932024-03-0113100117Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for children with drug-resistant epilepsy: Retrospective studyAlireza Zali0Farhad Mahvelati1Bijan Herfedoust Biazar2Fatemeh Sodeifian3Setareh Akbari4Meisam Akhlaghdoust5Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; USERN Office, Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranPediatric Neurology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience and Research Committee, School of Advanced Technology in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; USERN Office, Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author at: Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Introduction: According to current investigations, there are controversy in our knowledge regarding the safety and efficacy of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) in children younger than 12 years old. Therefore, we performed this study and aimed to better evaluate the safety and efficacy of VNS in children younger than 12 years. Method: The retrospective study comprised two groups. In the first group, patients (N = 19) underwent VNS implantation procedure and second group, (N = 21) received no VNS implantation. The main study parameters are as follows: (1) Primary outcome evaluated the proportion of cases with >50 % reduction of seizures at the last follow-up. (2) Changes in patients’ status in VNS group after procedure compared to before procedure. (3) Patient's complaints in VNS group compared to control group. Results: Our results demonstrated that there was a significant reduction in the frequency of seizures (per month) in patients 6 months after VNS surgery compared to before VNS surgery (1044.3 ± 1526.7 VS 220.7 ± 421.6; P value = 0.028). 57.9 % of patients underwent VNS showed the response rate of 50 % reduction in seizure frequency. There was significant improvement in memory problem, work/ school limitation, social limitation, and tachycardia 6 months after VNS procedure compared to before VNS procedure in patients. The most common reported side effects were difficulty swallowing (31.5 %) and coughing (31.5 %) followed by stomach discomfort (15.8 %). Conclusion: Considering the significant reduction in the frequency of seizures and improvement of life aspects including in memory problem, work/ school limitation, social limitation, we recommend VNS as an effective treatment modality for drug-resistant epilepsy in children. However, the combination of VNS with other treatment modalities that could improve other aspects of quality such as energy levels, sleep pattern, and feeling management of life is recommended.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666459324000027EpilepsyVNSVagus nerve stimulationChildrenDrug-resistant epilepsy |
| spellingShingle | Alireza Zali Farhad Mahvelati Bijan Herfedoust Biazar Fatemeh Sodeifian Setareh Akbari Meisam Akhlaghdoust Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for children with drug-resistant epilepsy: Retrospective study Brain Disorders Epilepsy VNS Vagus nerve stimulation Children Drug-resistant epilepsy |
| title | Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for children with drug-resistant epilepsy: Retrospective study |
| title_full | Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for children with drug-resistant epilepsy: Retrospective study |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for children with drug-resistant epilepsy: Retrospective study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for children with drug-resistant epilepsy: Retrospective study |
| title_short | Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for children with drug-resistant epilepsy: Retrospective study |
| title_sort | efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for children with drug resistant epilepsy retrospective study |
| topic | Epilepsy VNS Vagus nerve stimulation Children Drug-resistant epilepsy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666459324000027 |
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