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[Sleep-disordered breathing as a consequence of vagus nerve stimulation]
L Pérez-Carbonell1, S Higgins1, M Koutroumanidis1
1Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, Reino Unido.
Revista De Neurologia
|February 27, 2020
Summary
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for epilepsy can cause sleep-disordered breathing, including sleep apnoea. Pre-implantation screening for breathing issues is recommended for patients with refractory epilepsy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a treatment for refractory epilepsy.
- While generally safe, VNS can have side effects, including rare breathing disturbances during sleep.
Observation:
- Three cases of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) linked to VNS in epilepsy patients are presented.
- Observed conditions included sleep apnoea in two patients and stridor in one patient.
Findings:
- VNS activity can lead to significant sleep-disordered breathing in epilepsy patients.
- Sleep apnoea and stridor are potential, albeit rare, complications of VNS therapy.
Implications:
- Pre-VNS implantation assessment of sleep breathing is crucial for epilepsy patients.
- Consider SDB and sleep apnoea in epilepsy patients undergoing VNS, especially if breathing issues arise.
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