Use of Vagus Nerve Stimulator on Children With Primary Generalized Epilepsy

Abstract

Objective: To describe the response to vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) in otherwise neurotypical children with medically intractable primary generalized epilepsy.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent vagus nerve stimulator surgery between January 2011 and December 2015.

Results: Eleven patients were identified. Median follow-up duration was 2.5 years (1.2-8.4 years). Prior to vagus nerve stimulator surgery, all patients had at least 1 seizure per week, and 7/11 (64%) had daily seizures. At 1-year follow-up after vagus nerve stimulator, 7/11 (64%) reported improved seizure frequency and 6/11 (55%) reported fewer than 1 seizure per month. Three patients (27%) reported complications related to vagus nerve stimulator surgery, and no patients required device removal.

Significance: In children with medically intractable primary generalized epilepsy, vagus nerve stimulator is well tolerated and appears to lead to improvement in seizure frequency. Improvement was not attributable to epilepsy classification, age at vagus nerve stimulator implantation, output current, duty cycle, or follow-up duration.

Keywords: intractable epilepsy; pediatric epilepsy; primary generalized epilepsy; vagus nerve stimulator.