Effect of vagus nerve stimulation against generalized seizure and status epilepticus recurrence

• Published in: Frontiers in neurology 2023-09, Vol.14, p.1258854-1258854
• Main Authors: Iimura, Yasushi, Suzuki, Hiroharu, Mitsuhashi, Takumi, Ueda, Tetsuya, Nishioka, Kazuki, Horikoshi, Kou, Nomura, Kazuki, Sugano, Hidenori, Kondo, Akihide
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: drug-resistant epilepsy; generalized seizure; Neurology; response rate; status epilepticus; vagus nerve stimulation
• ISSN: 1664-2295; 1664-2295
• DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1258854

ObjectiveVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a palliative surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy. The two objectives of this study were to (1) determine the seizure type most responsive to VNS and (2) investigate the preventive effect on status epilepticus (SE) recurrence. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 136 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who underwent VNS implantation. We examined seizure outcomes at 6, 12, and 24 months following implantation of VNS as well as at the last visit to the Juntendo Epilepsy Center. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the prognostic factors. Results125 patients were followed up for at least 1 year after VNS implantation. The percentage of patients with at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency compared with prior to VNS implantation increased over time at 6, 12, and 24 months after VNS implantation: 28, 41, and 52%, respectively. Regarding overall seizure outcomes, 70 (56%) patients responded to VNS. Of the 40 patients with a history of SE prior to VNS implantation, 27 (67%) showed no recurrence of SE. The duration of epilepsy, history of SE prior to VNS implantation and seizure type were correlated with seizure outcomes after VNS implantation in univariate analysis (p = 0.05, p