Vagal Nerve Stimulation: Indications, Implantation, and Outcomes

Kwaku K Ohemeng; Kourosh Parham

doi:10.1016/j.otc.2019.09.008

Vagal Nerve Stimulation: Indications, Implantation, and Outcomes

Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2020 Feb;53(1):127-143. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2019.09.008. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

Authors

Kwaku K Ohemeng¹, Kourosh Parham²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UCONN School of Medicine, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-8083, USA.
² Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UCONN School of Medicine, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-8083, USA. Electronic address: parham@uchc.edu.

PMID: 31685239
DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2019.09.008

Abstract

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy is a surgical treatment that involves the implantation of a device to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve. It is indicated as an adjunctive treatment of epilepsy that is refractory to antiepileptic medications and for treatment-resistant depression. The exact mechanism by which VNS achieves its effects is not known, but various mechanisms have been proposed, including afferent vagal projections to seizure-generating regions of the brain and desynchronization of hypersynchronized cortical activity. The most common complications of VNS therapy include hoarseness, throat pain/dysphagia, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Keywords: Depression; Epilepsy; Intractable; Seizure; Treatment resistant; VNS; Vagal nerve stimulation; Vagus nerve.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant / therapy*
Drug Resistant Epilepsy / therapy*
Dyspnea / etiology
Hoarseness / etiology
Humans
Implantable Neurostimulators*
Treatment Outcome
Vagus Nerve Stimulation / adverse effects
Vagus Nerve Stimulation / methods*