ArticleCureus2024
Complications and Mortality Rate of Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy.
Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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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
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Severe bradycardia in a child with an implanted vagus nerve stimulator undergoing laparoscopy -A case report.Korean journal of anesthesiology · 2026Article
- Feasibility and safety of same-day discharge after paediatric vagus nerve stimulator implantation for medically intractable epilepsy: a retrospective safety analysis.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2026Article
- The mechanism and clinical research of vagus nerve electrical stimulation in the treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.iScience · 2026Review
- Article
- Recurrent obstructive sleep apnea precipitated by vagus nerve stimulator despite weight loss and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe goal of this study is to evaluate the complications and mortality associated with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).
methodsWe retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who underwent VNS implantation for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) between 2000 and 2023. The mean follow-up time was 10.6 years, ranging from three months to 22 years.
resultsIn total, 55 adult and pediatric patients received VNS therapy with 117 procedures performed over 23 years. The most common early complications were hoarseness and cough which were reported in eight adult patients (6.8%). Four children with intellectual disability (ID) had infection (3.4%), eight patients had lead breakage (6.8%), and two had device migration (1.7%). Four of all patients (7.3%) demonstrated late complications due to chronic nerve stimulation including vocal cord dysfunction, late-onset severe AV block, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Three patients (5.5%) had VNS deactivated permanently due to complications and/or lack of efficacy. Two patients died from probable sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) with an incidence of 3.4/1000 person-years.
conclusionsVNS therapy is safe over long-term follow-up but not without risks. Most post-operative complications are minor and transient for adults. Children with ID tend to have infection and device migration. Late-onset cardiac complications and OSA can develop in some patients during VNS therapy and should not be overlooked. The SUDEP rate may decrease with VNS therapy over time.
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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.