23 November 2018 : Clinical Research
Efficacy and Safety of Treatment with Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation in 17 Patients with Refractory Epilepsy Evaluated by Electroencephalogram, Seizure Frequency, and Quality of Life
Aihua Liu1AEFG, Peijing Rong2E, Li Gong1BCF, Lu Song3BC, Xian Wang1D, Liping Li1F, Yuping Wang1AG*DOI: 10.12659/MSM.910689
Med Sci Monit 2018; 24: CLR8439-8448
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of treatment with transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) for patients with refractory epilepsy by evaluation of the frequency of seizures, electroencephalogram (EEG) changes, and quality of life on follow-up at three months and six months.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: EEG evaluation followed baseline evaluation with EEG at three months and six months following tVNS treatment. The frequency of seizures was recorded during the six-month study period. Before and after tVNS treatment, patients completed the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale (LSSS), the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31), and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
RESULTS: Seventeen patients completed six months of tVNS treatment. Following three months of tVNS therapy, the frequency of epileptic seizures decreased in 13/17 subjects, with an average reduced seizure rate of 31.3%. Following six months of tVNS treatment, the frequency of epileptic seizures decreased in 16/17 subjects, with an average reduced seizure rate of 64.4%. There were 14/17 cases with abnormal EEG at baseline; 2/17 patients had improved EEGs by three months, and 10/17 patients had improved EEGs by six months. During the study period, there were no adverse events associated with tVNS treatment, but the effects on sleep were inconclusive.
CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study showed that tVNS was an effective and safe adjuvant treatment for refractory epilepsy that reduced seizure frequency and reduced abnormal EEG changes following clinical improvement.
Keywords: Electroencephalography, Epilepsy, Absence, Patients
Editorial
01 December 2021 : Editorial
Editorial: Cardiovascular Complications at One Year After SARS-CoV-2 Infection are Independent of Underlying Cardiovascular Risk Factors or Severity of COVID-19DOI: 10.12659/MSM.937048
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937048
SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19
04 May 2022 : Clinical Research
Effects of Wearing Face Masks on Exercise Capacity and Ventilatory Anaerobic Threshold in Healthy Subjects ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.936069
22 April 2022 : Clinical Research
Factors Associated with Falls During Hospitalization for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.936547
27 April 2022 : Meta-Analysis
Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Serum Vitamin D Levels in People Under Age 18 Years: A Systematic Review...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.935823
01 December 2021 : Clinical Research
COVID-19: Another Cause of Dental Anxiety?Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e936535
In Press
20 May 2022 : Clinical Research
Efficacy of Focused Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Prospective Randomized 3-...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.936614
19 May 2022 : Clinical Research
Association Between Serum Homocysteine Levels and Severity of Diabetic Kidney Disease in 489 Patients with ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.936323
18 May 2022 : Clinical Research
Physical and Psychosocial Concept Domains Related to Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) in 50 Girls and ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.936801
18 May 2022 : Clinical Research
Association Between Variants of the Mannose-Binding Lectin 2 Gene and Susceptibility to Sepsis in the Haina...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.936134
Most Viewed Current Articles
31 Dec 1969 : Clinical Research
Retrospective Study of Outcomes and Hospitalization Rates of Patients in Italy with a Confirmed Diagnosis o...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935379
Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e935379
31 Dec 1969 : Review article
A Review of the Potential Roles of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacological Approaches for the Man...DOI :10.12659/MSM.936292
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e936292
31 Dec 1969 : Review article
Long-Term Respiratory and Neurological Sequelae of COVID-19DOI :10.12659/MSM.928996
Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e928996
31 Dec 1969 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952