ArticleOperative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.)2020
Use of Polyvinyl Alcohol Sponge Cubes for Vagal Nerve Stimulation: A Suggestion for the Wrapping Step. Technical Note and Step-by-Step Operative Technique.
Article in Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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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.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- A pilot study on the programming protocol of vagus nerve stimulation in children with drug-resistant epilepsy: High pulse amplitude or high duty cycle.Epilepsia open · 2025Trial
- Vagus nerve stimulation allows to cease maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in treatment-resistant depression: a retrospective monocentric case series.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Article
- Flat electrode contacts for vagus nerve stimulation.PloS one · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is an approved treatment for epilepsy and depression. Wrapping the helical electrodes around the nerve can prove technically challenging. However, a quick and efficient method to slightly elevate the nerve can highly facilitate this part of the procedure.
objectiveTo provide useful surgical tips to facilitate the procedure.
methodsBased on experience of more than 150 adult cases for mainly epilepsy (primary lead implant), the authors share their surgical technique to provide the experienced surgeons or newcomers to the field of VNS with some useful tips. All patients signed informed consent according to the local ethics committee guidelines.
resultsThe article consists of a detailed step-by-step description of the whole procedure illustrated through high-resolution colored photographs of the surgical field. Special reference is made to the usefulness of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge cubes to elevate the nerve instead of the commonly used silicon vessel loops.
conclusionThe use of surgical microscope and PVA sponge cubes to elevate the nerve constitute key points to make VNS an easy surgery.
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Registered trials
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