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Updated: Jul 12, 2025
04:29
Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
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Refractory status epilepticus arrested by vagus nerve stimulation
Sadaf Mehboob1, Soorya Mukkadayil Sureshkumar1, Linford Fernandes2
1Department of Neurology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
Practical Neurology
|October 24, 2023
Summary
New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) can be challenging to treat. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) effectively resolved refractory seizures in a patient with NORSE, suggesting its early use may be beneficial.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) is a rare and severe neurological emergency.
- It is characterized by continuous seizures that are refractory to standard antiepileptic treatments.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old male presented with altered mental status and generalized tonic-clonic seizures following a week of upper respiratory symptoms and diarrhea.
- Brain MRI revealed multifocal progressive T2 cortical signal changes, and he was diagnosed with NORSE.
Findings:
- Despite aggressive treatment with antiseizure medications, immunosuppression (corticosteroids, IVIg, plasma exchange, rituximab), and anesthetic agents, the patient's seizures persisted.
- Vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implantation led to the resolution of seizure activity within three weeks.
Implications:
- This case suggests that Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may be a valuable early therapeutic option for managing refractory seizures in New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE).
- Early consideration of VNS could potentially improve outcomes for patients with this debilitating condition.
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