Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40887667›Full record

ArticleActa epileptologica2025

Long-term efficacy and predictors of vagus nerve stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy: a multicenter cohort study.

Bojing Tan, Yuye Liu, Mingkun Gong, Fangang Meng, Anchao Yang, Kai Zhang, Lin Sang, Jianguo Zhang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Acta epileptologica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Article
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

8 authors.

Bojing TanDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Yuye LiuDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Mingkun GongDepartment of Neurosurgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.
Fangang MengBeijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, 100070, China.
Anchao YangDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Kai ZhangDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Lin SangDepartment of Neurosurgery, Beijing Fengtai Hospital, Beijing, 100070, China.
Jianguo ZhangDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China. zjguo73@126.com.

Funding

Key Technologies Research and Development Program National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFC2401201)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAt present, a number of indicators have been analyzed for the relationship with the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients, but there is still no definite predictor of efficacy. This study is to assess the long-term effectiveness and predictors of VNS in DRE patients.

methodsWe analyzed DRE patients monitored for over a year post-surgery (2016-2019) to evaluate VNS outcomes. Logistic regression was used to identify efficacy predictors.

resultsOut of 162 DRE patients with VNS, 99 were followed for over 12 months, 80 for over 24 months, and 70 for over 36 months. At 12 months, 33 (33.4%) showed effectiveness, including 7 (7.1%) who were seizure-free. At 24 months, 32 (40.0%) were effective, including 12 (15.0%) who were seizure-free. At 36 months, 36 (51.4%) were effective, including 11 (15.7%) who were seizure-free. After 5 years, 27 (55.1%) were effective, including 8 (16.3%) who were seizure-free. Multivariate regression analysis identified structural etiology as a predictive factor for the effective VNS treatment (P = 0.039, OR = 0.35 [0.13-0.95]).

conclusionsVNS effectively controls seizures, with effectiveness and seizure-free rates improving over time. Patients with structural factors are at higher risk of ineffective VNS, suggesting epilepsy etiology may predict VNS outcomes.

Indexed as

Drug-resistant epilepsyPredictorVagus nerve stimulation

Identifiers

PMID40887667
PMCPMC12400741

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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.