Efficiency of vagus nerve stimulation in epilepsy (literature review and case report)

Abstract

Despite significant advances in epileptology, approximately one-third of patients suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy. Numerous approaches are currently available to treat epilepsy; however, there are still many patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy, in whom antiepileptic drugs are ineffective and surgical treatment is impossible. Thus, searching for new effective antiepileptic drugs and alternative treatments (such as vagus nerve stimulation) for these patients remains highly relevant. This literature review covers the indications for and the efficacy and tolerability of vagus nerve stimulation in patients with epilepsy. We also report a case of successful treatment of a patient with drug-resistant epilepsy using this method.

Keywords

• epilepsy
• pharmacoresistant epilepsy
• focal epilepsy
• focal epileptic seizures
• vagus nerve stimulation
• effectiveness
• tolerance