Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28689344›Full record

Trial reportChild's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery2017

Neurological results of the modified treatment of epilepsy by stimulation of the vagus nerve.

Michael Vaiman, Eli Heyman, Gad Lotan

Abstract readClinical Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 32% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Michael VaimanDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Assaf Harofe Medical Center, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 33 Shapiro Street, 59561, Bat Yam, Israel. vaimed@yahoo.com.
Eli HeymanPediatric Epilepsy Service, Pediatric Neurology Department, Assaf Harofe Medical Center, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Gad LotanDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Assaf Harofe Medical Center, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Tel Aviv University · ILAssaf Harofeh Medical Center · IL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is used for treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy but laryngeal side effects are common. We tried to improve VNS by modifying the implantation procedure. The aim was to reduce the rate of side effects that have prevented using VNS to its full capacity.

methodsWe operated on 74 pediatric patients for VNS device implantation using a modified surgical protocol incorporating lower neck incision for electrode placement and 36 patients who were operated by standard technique were used for control group. We retrospectively analyzed reduction in frequency of seizures, reduction in severity of seizures (assessed by the shortened Ictal/post-ictal subscale of the Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale that included falling to the ground, postictal headache and sleepiness, incontinence, tongue biting, and injury during attack).

resultsUsing the new implantation technique, side effects related directly to VNS therapy occurred in six cases (8.1%) showing statistically sound improvement over the standard implantation technique (p ˂ 0.05). To achieve good results, the maximum stimulation (3.5 mA) was used in 24 patients (32.4%), with no laryngeal side effects detected. Twelve patients (16.2%) were seizure-free after the first year of VNS treatment. 74.3% of patients experienced a 50% reduction in seizure frequency and improved ictal or postictal activity.

conclusionTo minimize laryngeal complications in implantation surgery for VNS devices, the surgical technique may be modified, and lower neck incision could be used. A low rate of laryngeal side effects allows using the VNS device to its full electrical capacity.

Indexed as

AdolescentChildChild, PreschoolDrug Resistant EpilepsyFemaleHumansMaleTreatment OutcomeVagus Nerve StimulationEpilepsyImplantation surgeryPediatricVagus nerve stimulation

Identifiers

PMID28689344
OpenAlexW2725588500

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.