Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy 2016; 05(01): 007-010
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1567851
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Vagal Nerve Stimulation: Is It Effective in Children with Dravet Syndrome?

Deepa Sirsi
1   Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
,
Muna Khan
1   Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
,
Susan T. Arnold
1   Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

10. Dezember 2014

16. Juni 2015

Publikationsdatum:
19. November 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Treatment of Dravet syndrome with anti-seizure medications is challenging and frequently disappointing in early childhood. Nonpharmacologic treatments for epilepsy including ketogenic diet, corpus callosotomy, and vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) are considered and used for management of medically refractory epilepsy. In this series, we report our experience with VNS in eight children with Dravet syndrome. Mean age at VNS implantation was 6.2 years. Duration of treatment with VNS ranged from 2 to 13 years. When compared with baseline, four of eight children had a 50 to 75% reduction in seizure frequency or duration. Four children had no significant improvement in seizures after VNS. The device was well tolerated in all patients without significant complications.