Abstract | OBJECTIVES: MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 15 children with intractable focal epilepsy treated by vagus nerve stimulation (mean age of 14.6 ± 2.5 years at the time of implantation). We analyzed the treatment effectiveness at 1, 2, and 5 year follow-up visits. We counted the average number of urgent hospitalizations and number of days of urgent hospitalization per year for each patient before and after the VNS implantation. RESULTS: The mean seizure reduction was 42.5% at 1 year, 54.9% at 2 years, and 58.3% at 5 years. The number of responders was 7 (46.7%) at 1 year and 9 (60%) at both 2 and 5 years. The mean number of urgent hospitalizations per patient was 1.0 ± 0.6 per year preoperatively and 0.3 ± 0.5 per year post-operatively (P < 0.0001). The mean number of days of urgent hospitalization per patient was 9.3 ± 6.1 per year preoperatively and 1.3 ± 1.8 per year post-operatively ( < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:
Vagus nerve stimulation is an effective method of treating children with refractory focal epilepsy. It leads to a substantial decrease in the number and duration of urgent hospitalizations.
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Authors | M Ryzí, M Brázdil, Z Novák, J Chrastina, H Ošlejšková, I Rektor, R Kuba |
Journal | Acta neurologica Scandinavica
(Acta Neurol Scand)
Vol. 127
Issue 5
Pg. 316-22
(May 2013)
ISSN: 1600-0404 [Electronic] Denmark |
PMID | 22994298
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Anticonvulsants
(therapeutic use)
- Child
- Cough
(etiology)
- Deglutition Disorders
(etiology)
- Emergencies
(epidemiology)
- Epilepsies, Partial
(drug therapy, therapy)
- Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic
(drug therapy, therapy)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Heart Arrest
(etiology)
- Hospitalization
(statistics & numerical data)
- Humans
- Incidence
- Male
- Recurrence
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation
(adverse effects)
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