Vagus nerve stimulation for XXXX : experience from Saudi Arabia.

@entity1 @entity410 @entity734 @entity302
BACKGROUND: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been approved for the treatment of refractory partial epi.lepsy in adults and @entity1 over 12 years of age. Later on, its application expanded to include younger @entity1 and other types of @entity302 . We report our experience with this treatment modality for @entity302 in Saudi Arabia. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Open-label, uncontrolled, retrospective study of @entity1 with @entity302 , who were treated with VNS in a tertiary care hospital from January 2010 to June 2013. @entity1 AND METHODS: Collected data included 26 @entity1 ' demographics, @entity302 characteristics, sei.zure frequency, and treatment history. @entity1 with a follow-up duration of minimum 12 months were included in the analysis. The examined outcome measures were @entity410 reduction rates, @entity734 ( @entity734 ) burden, and impact on @entity1 ' quality of life (QOL). RESULTS: Onset of @entity410 was from birth to 30 years. @entity1 ' ages at VNS implantation ranged from 4 to 38 years (18.9 [8.7] years). @entity302 was classified as focal in 8 @entity1 (30%), multifocal in 9 @entity1 (35%), and generalized in 9 @entity1 (35%). The average number of @entity734 failed before VNS was 4.2 (1.4). Greater than 50% @entity410 reduction was achieved in 50% of @entity1 at 3 months, 67% at 6 months, 73% at 12 months, and 78% at 24 months. There was no significant reduction in @entity734 burden during the same period. Subjective QOL improvement was reported by 72% of @entity1 at 3 months, 83% at 6 months, 78% at 12 months, and 73% at 24 months after VNS. Minor adverse effects were reported in 27% of @entity1 . One @entity1 had the device replaced due to malfunction. CONCLUSION: The experience with VNS in a single center in Saudi Arabia confirms that it is a safe and effec.tive adjunctive therapy for @entity302 in adult and pediatric @entity1 .
