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Does emergent implantation of a vagal nerve stimulator stop refractory status epilepticus in children?
- Source :
-
Seizure [Seizure] 2018 Oct; Vol. 61, pp. 94-97. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Aug 11. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Purpose: Status Epilepticus can be a serious life threatening event in epileptic patients. The definition of refractory or super-refractory Status Epilepticus was based on the therapeutic response to anti-epileptic and anesthetic drugs. Vagal Nerve Stimulation showed efficacy in treating drug-resistant epilepsy but there are only few reports on emergentplacement of Vagal Nerve Stimulator for refractory or super-refractory Status Epilepticus.<br />Methods: Among 49 children implanted at our Institution with Vagal Nerve Stimulation for drug-resistant epilepsy, the authors retrospectively identified those implanted for refractory or super-refractory Status Epilepticus, according with the current definitions.<br />Results: 4 patients were operated upon at ages ranging 7 to 17 months and reached the programmed output current of 1 mA over a time ranging from 24 to 36 h (fast ramping-up). In 3 out of 4 patient we observed the abrupt of Status Epilepticus; one patient was refractory both to drugs and Vagal Nerve Stimulation and later died, without recovering from SE. At follow up, ranging from 24 to 45 months, the remaining 3 patients showed a decrease of the seizures frequency >80% without relapse of Status Epilepticus; in all the patients, output current and/or Duty Cycle were increased later.<br />Conclusion: VNS can be effective in treating refractory or super-refractory Status Epilepticus.<br /> (Copyright © 2018 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Anticonvulsants therapeutic use
Brain Waves drug effects
Brain Waves radiation effects
Child
Child, Preschool
Electroencephalography
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Male
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Outcome
Drug Resistant Epilepsy therapy
Electrodes, Implanted
Status Epilepticus therapy
Vagus Nerve Stimulation methods
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1532-2688
- Volume :
- 61
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Seizure
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30118931
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2018.08.008