Complications of vagal nerve stimulation for epilepsy in children

Neurosurgical Review
Franco RychlickiMassimo Scerrati

Abstract

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is a surgical option to treat drug-resistant epilepsy. A few side effects have been described, mainly as anecdotal reports. We analysed our material concerning a juvenile population to identify the most common and most important complications, discussing them with the literature. Thirty-six patients were studied (18 months-18 years old). The children were assessed before the VNS implant and 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after surgery. The mean follow-up was 30 months. Four patients required a second surgery: two for changing the device 3 years after implant; one for revision of an imperfect implant; one for removing a non-functioning device. In one patient a transient vocal cord paralysis was observed. Hoarseness was the main complaint (38.8%). More infrequent was mild sleep apnoea (8.3%), sternocleidomastoid muscle spasm, drooling and snoring in one patient each. Skin scars were reported with a different frequency according to the surgical technique. At variance with the literature reports, we did not observe infections. Side effects of VNS can be minimised, but not avoided completely, with a correct technical procedure, which in turn depends upon a thorough knowledge of vagus nerve anatomy.

References

May 1, 1997·Southern Medical Journal·G W HornigC Tilton
Jul 31, 1998·Pediatric Neurology·J V MurphyC L Tilton
Aug 13, 1998·Epilepsia·J LundgrenL Wallstedt
Sep 17, 1998·Epilepsia·J LundgrenR Olsson
Apr 2, 1999·Pediatrics·A P ParkerR O Robinson
Sep 6, 2000·Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology·D Labar
Nov 16, 2001·Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology : Official Publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society·H J MajoieW O Renier
Apr 6, 2002·Child's Nervous System : ChNS : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery·Nelia ZamponiAlessandro Ducati
Aug 2, 2002·Journal of Voice : Official Journal of the Voice Foundation·Willem KersingHendrik P J Buschman
Feb 5, 2003·The Laryngoscope·Craig ZalvanAndrew Blitzer
Apr 26, 2003·Child's Nervous System : ChNS : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery·M Vassilyadi, R H Strawsburg
Aug 30, 2003·The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques·Lakshmi NagarajanSoumya Ghosh
Sep 10, 2003·Journal of Neurosurgery·Matthew D SmythJeffrey P Blount

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 6, 2009·Child's Nervous System : ChNS : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery·S M R KabirJ McMullan
Feb 4, 2010·Journal of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics·Martin OrtlerEugen Trinka
Mar 3, 2012·Neurosurgical Focus·Brian J DlouhyHiroto Kawasaki
May 9, 2012·Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology·Marco GiulioniPaolo Tinuper
Dec 12, 2012·Surgical Neurology International·Jason S Hauptman, Gary W Mathern
Jun 4, 2013·Brain Stimulation·Zachary D Van WagonerBrian D Kenney
Apr 9, 2016·European Journal of Paediatric Neurology : EJPN : Official Journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society·Verónica Cantarín-ExtremeraBelén Rivero-Martín
May 1, 2012·Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology·Sylvia KlinkenbergMarian Majoie
Mar 25, 2008·Pediatric Neurology·Phillip L PearlWilliam D Gaillard
Jul 23, 2013·Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association·Hannes Kahlow, Magnus Olivecrona
Aug 13, 2010·Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association·Riëm El TahryKristl Vonck
Feb 24, 2015·Journal of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics·Chittur Viswanathan GopalakrishnanMary B Connolly
Jan 3, 2015·Revue neurologique·B MathonS Clemenceau
Sep 10, 2016·Journal of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics·Ashley RalstonDavid M Frim
Nov 22, 2016·Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics·Feng Liu, Xuefeng Wang
May 3, 2011·Journal of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics·Robert E ElliottWerner K Doyle
Apr 16, 2011·Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery : Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery·Garima AgarwalJoseph L Edmonds
Dec 7, 2007·Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics·Arun Paul Amar
Nov 26, 2010·Neurosurgery·Sebastian SpuckJürgen Sperner
Oct 23, 2013·Epilepsia·Renzo GuerriniUNKNOWN Commission for Epilepsy Surgery of the Italian League Against Epilepsy
Jul 1, 2011·Neurosurgery·Faisal A Al-OtaibiAndres M Lozano
Aug 26, 2014·Acta Neurologica Scandinavica·R S FisherC W Wright
Jul 25, 2021·Child's Nervous System : ChNS : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery·Jason LabuschagneClaudia Casieri
Aug 15, 2021·Neuromodulation : Journal of the International Neuromodulation Society·Hongliang MaoHongwei Cheng
Jul 2, 2021·European Archives of Oto-rhino-laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : Affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·S GraslW D Baumgartner
Oct 30, 2020·Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association·Dènahin Hinnoutondji ToffaDang Khoa Nguyen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
Niraj C Patel, Morven S Edwards
Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association
Franco RychlickiMassimo Scerrati
Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association
Andreas V AlexopoulosWilliam E Bingaman
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved