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Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy in Pediatric Patients With Refractory Epilepsy: Retrospective Study

Department of Neurology, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, sandra_helmers{at}Emory.org.

James W. Wheless, MD

Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, University of Texas-Houston, TX

Michael Frost, MD

Minnesota Epilepsy Group of United Children's Hospital, St. Paul, MN

John Gates, MD

Minnesota Epilepsy Group of United Children's Hospital, St. Paul, MN

Paul Levisohn, MD

Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and Children's Hospital, Denver, CO

Carmelo Tardo, MD

Louisiana State University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New Orleans, LA

Joan A. Conry, MD

Department of Neurology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC

Dilek Yalnizoglu, MD

Hacettepe University Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Joseph R. Madsen, MD

Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

This six-center, retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of vagus nerve stimulation in children. Data were available for 125 patients at baseline, 95 patients at 3 months, 56 patients at 6 months, and 12 patients at 12 months. The typical patient, aged 12 years, had onset of seizures at age 2 years and had tried nine anticonvulsants before implantation. Collected data included preimplant history, seizures, implant, device settings, quality of life, and adverse events. Average seizure reduction was 36.1% at 3 months and 44.7% at 6 months. Common adverse events included voice alteration and coughing during stimulation. Rare adverse events, unique to this age group, included increased drooling and increased hyperactivity. Quality of life improved in alertness, verbal communication, school performance, clustering of seizures, and postictal periods. We concluded that vagus nerve stimulation is an effective treatment for medically refractory epilepsy in children. (J Child Neurol 2001;16:843—848).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 16, No. 11, 843-848 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/08830738010160111101


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