VNS and pregnancy: A multicentric experience of four cases

Abstract

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation system (VNS) has been employed worldwide as adjunctive therapy in drug-resistant epileptic patients. Only nine previous pregnancies with six-positive outcomes have been reported in women with epilepsy treated with VNS since 1998.

Aims of the study: To communicate the experience of pregnancies in women treated with VNS in our country.

Methods: Clinical data of four female patients treated with VNS during pregnancy and delivery in five gestations is described.

Results: Four pregnancy outcomes were positive and one ended in spontaneous abortion, probably more related to the use antiepileptic drugs than VNS itself. Two births were vaginal and the other two with cesarean section. None of the complications during delivery were attributed to VNS. No teratogenicity was documented.

Conclusions: Based on our experience VNS constitutes a safe therapy for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy in women of childbearing potential and during pregnancy and delivery. Larger series will be useful to confirm this finding.

Keywords: delivery; pharmaco-resistant epilepsy; pregnancy; teratogenicity; vagus nerve stimulation.