Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, a recently available option for
patients with refractory epilepsy, has demonstrated safety and efficacy. We
report four patients with refractory epilepsy who experienced ventricular
asystole intraoperatively during initial testing for implantation of the va
gus nerve stimulator. Acute intraoperative vagus nerve stimulation may crea
te ventricular asystole in humans. Extracorporeal cervical vagus nerve stim
ulation testing with continuous EKG monitoring intraoperatively before gene
rator implantation is warranted.