Long-term vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Epilepsy Behav
; 16(2): 321-4, 2009 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19699154
ABSTRACT
The long-term effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on seizure frequency were studied in 30 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Median observation time was 52 months (17-123). The effect parameters investigated were total number of seizures and different seizure types. The median reduction in number of seizures was 60.6%. The effects of VNS varied considerably between seizure types. Best effects were observed with atonic seizures (80.8% median reduction, number of responders 8/12), followed closely by tonic seizures (73.3% median reduction, number of responders 8/13). Least effects were with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (median reduction 57.4%, number of responders 11/20). Additional positive effects included milder or shorter ictal or postictal phase in 16 patients. Improved alertness was reported in 76.7%. Adverse effects, of which drooling and voice alteration were most frequent, were reported in 20 patients. There was a statistically significant reduction in the median number of antiepileptic drugs used. The discontinuation rate was 16.7%.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Epilepsia
/
Estimulação do Nervo Vago
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article