Vagus nerve stimulation therapy in pediatric patients with refractory epilepsy: Retrospective study

This six-center, retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness, tolerabil ity, and safety of vagus nerve stimulation in children. Data were available for 125 patients at baseline, 95 patients at 3 months, 56 patients at 6 mo nths, and 12 patients at 12 months. The typical patient, aged 12 years, had onset of seizures at age 2 years and had tried nine anticonvulsants before implantation. Collected data included preimplant history, seizures, implan t, device settings, quality of life, and adverse events. Average seizure re duction was 36.1% at 3 months and 44.7% at 6 months. Common adverse events included voice alteration and coughing during stimulation. Rare adverse eve nts, unique to this age group, included increased drooling and increased hy peractivity. Quality of life improved in alertness, verbal communication, s chool performance, clustering of seizures, and postictal periods. We conclu ded that vagus nerve stimulation is an effective treatment for medically re fractory epilepsy in children.