Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Patient Selection

Abstract

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is a technique applied in patients with intractable epilepsy. Patients who are not eligible to epilepsy surgery and those who are accepted as failure after surgery are candidates for VNS. A meta analysis revealed that 50% of the patients have a > 50% seizure reduction, 24% of them have < 50% seizure reduction and 24% have no change (or even increase) in their baseline seizure frequencies. In this paper, indications for VNS and outcome and follow up the patients are discussed.