Vagus nerve stimulation therapy: nurses role in a collaborative approach to a program

Approximately 300,000 Canadians have epilepsy. Of those 30 percent fail to achieve satisfactory seizure control with current antiepileptic drug therapy (Vagus Nerve Stimulator Study Group, 1995). The development and availability of new therapeutic options cannot be overlooked for medically intractable patients. Chronic Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has demonstrated a 50 percent reduction in seizure frequency in 1/3 of patients with refractory partial onset seizures (Uthman, et al, 1993). Individuals undergoing this procedure require the attention of health care professionals from both the neurological and neurosurgical programs. This unique intervention demands that the patient's device be tested intra-operative, and programming begin during the immediate post-operative phase. Assessment of tolerance and side effects to vagus nerve stimulation therapy, as well as continued evaluation of the patients seizure control are necessary to direct staged programming of the device. This poster will demonstrate how the nurses from the neurology and neurosurgery clinics have been able to collaborate to ensure patients needs are met. Patient education is crucial to assisting the patient through this procedure, and key points will be identified. The implementation of coordinating the approach for programming the patient's device will be depicted. Future recommendations for long-term outcome measurement will be addressed.