Abstracts

Rationale: Vagus nerve stimulation therapy (VNS) is widely recognized as palliative epilepsy surgery for intractable epilepsy patients, who is not an indication for resective epilepsy surgery. VNS is reported to have an effect on suppressing status epilepticus(SE) and withdrawal from SE. In addition, some patients develop SE that requires respiratory management every year. We have performed VNS on these patients for the purpose of suppressing SE. We report the effect of VNS on such SE. Methods: Six patients underwent VNS; four with low seizure frequency but easily had shifted to SE, two who had been difficult to withdraw from SE. The diagnosis of epilepsy was two for general epilepsy and four for localized epilepsy. Five patients underwent pre-operative evaluation for resective surgery, and four were out of indication for resective surgery. Results: Mean age at onset was 20.5 years old (0-57), mean disease duration was 20.8 years (4-31) and mean age at surgery was 41.3 years old (13-61). Two patients who tried to withdraw from SE introduced rapid stimulation, and both of which were able to withdraw from SE without adverse events. In four patients with low seizure frequency but easily had shifted to SE, only one patient had SE twice but treated without sedation and respiratory management. The other three patients never suffered SE after surgery. In all patients the seizure frequency decreased after surgery, and experienced no adverse events that interfered stimulation adjustment. Conclusions: VNS showed inhibitory effect on SE in all 6 patients. VNS is a palliative epilepsy surgery for intractable epilepsy, but VNS may inhibit the onset and expression of SE. Funding: No funding