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What is Epilepsy?
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How is Epilepsy Treated?
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What is Drug-Resistant Epilepsy?
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What is a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS)? How Does it Work?
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What is VNS Surgery? How is it Performed?
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Is VNS Surgery Risky?
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What are the Potential Complications?
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How Long Does The Device Last?
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Do Seizures Stop Completely After VNS Surgery?
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Is There a Follow-up Process After VNS Surgery?
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder, is a neurological condition caused by abnormal electrochemical discharges in the brain's nerve cells. The prevalence of epilepsy in the general population is approximately 1%, which is a significant rate.
How is Epilepsy Treated?
Treatment varies depending on the underlying cause. If diagnostic tests reveal a tumor, vascular malformation, or a specific seizure focus in the brain, surgical removal of the pathology causing the seizures is the priority. For patients whose brain imaging is normal, medical therapy is the first line of treatment.
What is Drug-Resistant Epilepsy?
About 60-65% of epilepsy patients achieve seizure control through medication. However, in 35-40% of cases, seizures persist despite using one or more antiepileptic drugs.
Drug-resistant epilepsy is defined as the persistence of seizures despite the use of at least two different antiepileptic medications at appropriate doses for at least two years.
What is a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS)? How Does it Work?
First used in 1988, the vagus nerve stimulator has proven effective in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and is now widely used worldwide.
The device detects changes in heart rate that may indicate an impending seizure and delivers a mild electrical impulse to the vagus nerve in the neck. This signal travels to the brain and helps suppress abnormal neuronal discharges, either preventing the seizure entirely or reducing its intensity.
What is VNS Surgery? How is it Performed?
VNS surgery is performed on selected patients with drug-resistant epilepsy after evaluations by Neurology, Psychiatry, and Neurosurgery specialists. It is particularly beneficial for patients who did not benefit from open brain surgery, are not candidates for such procedures, or prefer to avoid the associated risks.
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. A small incision is made on the left side of the neck, and under microscopic guidance, the vagus nerve is exposed. The stimulator’s lead is wrapped around the nerve, and the wire is tunneled under the skin to a pulse generator placed beneath the chest skin, near the heart. The surgery typically lasts 1 to 1.5 hours.
Is VNS Surgery Risky?
When performed by experienced surgeons, VNS surgery carries a low risk. Patients are usually able to eat and walk on the same day and are discharged within 24 hours.
What are the Potential Complications?
Although rare, possible complications include infection, bleeding, and nerve injury. These risks are minimal when the procedure is performed by skilled hands.
How Long Does The Device Last?
Current VNS devices have a lifespan of approximately 4 to 7 years, depending on the patient’s seizure activity. When the battery depletes, the device can be replaced under local anesthesia, and patients are discharged the same day.
Do Seizures Stop Completely After VNS Surgery?
The primary goal of VNS therapy is not complete seizure elimination, but rather a significant reduction in seizure frequency and severity, enabling the patient to live a more comfortable and functional life.
Is There a Follow-up Process After VNS Surgery?
Yes, follow-ups are conducted by a neurologist to adjust the device settings and assess seizure response. Based on these evaluations, medication dosages may be adjusted or reduced over time.
* Contents of this page is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. The content of this page does not include information on medicinal health care at Liv Hospital .
