Vagus nerve stimulation for XXXX : a Belgian multicenter study.

@entity1 @entity410 @entity1625 @entity302
INTRODUCTION: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a symptomatic add-on treatment for @entity1 with medically @entity302 . It consists of continuous electrical stimulation of the left vagus nerve by means of a helical electrode and an implantable, programmable pulse generator. Currently, over 50,000 @entity1 are treated with VNS worldwide. AIM: This uncontrolled, open-label retrospective study evaluates long-term outcome in @entity1 treated with VNS for @entity302 in seven different @entity302 centres in Belgium. METHODS: For the purpose of this study, a minimum of essential inclusion criteria were defined to collect relevant data. This limited the results to basic findings with regards to efficacy on the long term. Inclusion criteria were a follow-up of at least 12 months and a documented @entity410 diary before implantation and at maximum follow-up. Primary outcome measures were the reduction in mean monthly @entity410 frequency and the percentage of @entity1 with a @entity410 reduction of at least 50% (responder rate). RESULTS: About 138 @entity1 (67M/71F) had a mean age of 30 years (range 4-59) at time of implantation and a mean post-implantation follow-up of 44 months (range 12-120). The mean number of AEDs before implantation was 3 (range 1-5). About 117/138 @entity1 had @entity1625 , 21 @entity1 had symptomatic generalised @entity302 . About 117/138 @entity1 were older than 16 years, 21 @entity1 were 16 or younger. At maximum follow-up, mean stimulation output current was 1.84mA (range 0-3.25). Mean number of AEDs at maximum follow-up remained unchanged. The overall reduction in mean monthly @entity410 frequency was 51%. Mean @entity410 frequency before implantation was 41 @entity410 /month (SD=61; range 1-300), mean @entity410 frequency after implantation at maximum follow-up was 7 @entity410 /month (SD=25; range 0-120). Responder rate was 59%. 13% of @entity1 had a @entity410 frequency decrease between 30% and 50%. About 28% had a @entity410 frequency decrease of<30%. @entity410 freedom was obtained in 12/138 @entity1 (9%). CONCLUSIONS: The long-term experience with VNS in Belgium confirms that VNS is an efficacious adjunctive antiepileptic treatment for @entity1 with @entity302 .
