Histological appearance of a chronically stimulated vagus nerve in a pediatric patient

Histological analysis of chronically stimulated human vagus nerves is lacki ng in the literature. In this study, we describe the first microscopic find ings in a chronically stimulated left vagus nerve from a pediatric patient. Our results show many histological changes in and around the stimulated ne rve with severe demyelination. Further long-term clinical and postmortem ex aminations of chronically stimulated vagus nerves in both children and adul ts are needed to ascertain whether prolonged exposure to electrical current can cause clinical dysfunction of this nerve. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.