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Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 58. No. 2., 2019.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2019.58.02.08

Efficacy and Tolerability of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy (VNS) in Slovenian Epilepsy Patients: Younger Age and Shorter Duration of Epilepsy Might Result in Better Outcome

Alja Kavčič ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Nina Kajdič ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Zvonka Rener-Primec orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-3544-1124 ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Department of Child, Adolescent and Developmental Neurology, Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Natalija Krajnc ; Department of Pediatrics, Slovenj Gradec General Hospital, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia
Tomaž Žgur ; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Abstract

To review the outcome of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy in all implanted Slovenian patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, data on 48 patients implanted between 2001 and 2015 were obtained retrospectively from medical records. The outcome was assessed in 2016. Out of 48 patients, 39 responded at follow up. The seizure frequency was reduced in 18 (46.2%) patients; 13 (33.3%) of them reported ≥50% reduction after 12 months of therapy. The responder rate was higher among patients implanted before the age of six years. Ictal severity decreased in 22 (56.4%), seizure duration in 19 (48.7%) and post-ictal recovery time in 22 (56.4%) patients. Favorable effects on the quality of life (QOL) were improved alertness in 33.3%, concentration in 41.0%, energy and mood in 38.5%, and memory in 17.9% of patients. Reduced seizure burden and improved QOL were more often observed in patients implanted at a younger age. Shorter duration of epilepsy was significantly associated with QOL improvement. Adverse effects were transient. Overall positive effects showed VNS to be a safe, well-tolerated and effective adjunctive treatment in most severe drug-resistant epilepsy patients. Implantation at a younger age and shorter duration of epilepsy before implantation could be important predictors of better outcome.

Keywords

Vagus nerve stimulation; Drug resistant epilepsy; Quality of life; Follow-up studies; Seizures; Slovenia

Hrčak ID:

224355

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/224355

Publication date:

1.6.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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