Vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy: experience from Saudi Arabia

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been approved for the treatment of refractory partial epilepsy in adults and children over 12 years of age. Later on, its application expanded to include younger children and other types of epilepsy. We report our experience with this treatment modality for refractory epilepsy in Saudi Arabia.

Open-label, uncontrolled, retrospective study of patients with refractory epilepsy, who were treated with VNS in a tertiary care hospital from January 2010 to June 2013.

Collected data included 26 patients' demographics, epilepsy characteristics, seizure frequency, and treatment history. Patients with a follow-up duration of minimum 12 months were included in the analysis. The examined outcome measures were seizure reduction rates, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) burden, and impact on patients' quality of life (QOL).

Onset of seizures was from birth to 30 years. Patients' ages at VNS implantation ranged from 4 to 38 years (18.9 [8.7] years). Epilepsy was classified as focal in 8 patients (30%), multifocal in 9 patients (35%), and generalized in 9 patients (35%). The average number of AEDs failed before VNS was 4.2 (1.4). Greater than 50% seizure reduction was achieved in 50% of patients at 3 months, 67% at 6 months, 73% at 12 months, and 78% at 24 months. There was no significant reduction in AEDs burden during the same period. Subjective QOL improvement was reported by 72% of patients at 3 months, 83% at 6 months, 78% at 12 months, and 73% at 24 months after VNS. Minor adverse effects were reported in 27% of patients. One patient had the device replaced due to malfunction.

The experience with VNS in a single center in Saudi Arabia confirms that it is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for refractory epilepsy in adult and pediatric patients.