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Updated: May 3, 2026
Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
The Israeli retrospective multicenter open-label study evaluating vagus nerve stimulation efficacy in children and
Shay Menascu1, Uri Kremer2, Yitzhak Schiller3
1Pediatric Neurology Unit, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. bguac@yahoo.com
Background:
The management of intractable epilepsy in children and adults is challenging. For patients who do not respond to anti-epileptic drugs and are not suitable candidates for epilepsy surgery, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is a viable alternative for reducing seizure frequency.
Methods:
In this retrospective multicenter open-label study we examined the efficacy and tolerability of VNS in patients in five adult and pediatric epilepsy centers in Israel. All patients had drug-resistant epilepsy and after VNS implantation in 2006-2007 were followed for a minimum of 18 months. Patients were divided into two age groups: < 21 and > 21 years old.
Results:
Fifty-six adults and children had a stimulator implanted in 2006-2007. At 18 months post-VNS implantation, none of the patients was seizure-free, 24.3% reported a reduction in seizures of > or = 75%, 19% reported a 50-75% reduction, and 10.8% a 25-50% reduction. The best response rate occurred in patients with complex partial seizures. Among these patients, 7 reported a > or = 75% reduction, 5 patients a 50-75% reduction, 3 patients a 25-50% reduction, and 8 patients a < 25% reduction. A comparison of the two age groups showed that the older group (< 21 years old) had fewer seizures than the younger group.
Conclusions:
VNS is a relatively effective and safe palliative method for treating refractory epilepsy in both adults and children. It is an alternative treatment for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, even after a relatively long disease duration, who are not candidates for localized epilepsy surgery.
