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Case Reports
. 1999 Apr 12;52(6):1267-9.
doi: 10.1212/wnl.52.6.1267.

Ventricular asystole during vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy in humans

W O Tatum 4th  1 , D B Moore, M M Stecker, G H Baltuch, J A French, J A Ferreira, P M Carney, D R Labar, F L Vale
Affiliations
Case Reports

Ventricular asystole during vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy in humans

W O Tatum 4th et al. Neurology. .

Abstract

Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, a recently available option for patients with refractory epilepsy, has demonstrated safety and efficacy. We report four patients with refractory epilepsy who experienced ventricular asystole intraoperatively during initial testing for implantation of the vagus nerve stimulator. Acute intraoperative vagus nerve stimulation may create ventricular asystole in humans. Extracorporeal cervical vagus nerve stimulation testing with continuous EKG monitoring intraoperatively before generator implantation is warranted.

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