Abstracts

Rationale: Vagal Nerve Stimulator insertion is indicated for drug-resistant epilepsy patients, who did not qualify for resective surgery. Literature reports positive reactions on seizures, mood, cognitive functions and Quality of Life after Vagal Nerve Stimulator procedure. The aim of our study is to evaluate neuropsychological functioning, Quality of Life and mood conditions pre and post (one year follow-up) Vagal Nerve Stimulator insertion, in order to verify the influence of this procedure on cognitive and mood variables. Methods: The inclusion criteria are: consecutive patients, treated at the Epilepsy Center, Neurology 2, S. Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, not qualified for epilepsy surgery, with a drug-resistant epilepsy, aged 18 or more. A complete neuropsychological battery has been administered to all 14 selected patients. This battery includes tests for the assessment of intelligence level, attention, short term verbal memory, short term visual memory, long term verbal memory, long term visual memory, language, a questionnaire on mood status and another one on Quality of Life. All these instruments are validated in Italy. Results: The first one-year follow-up highlights an improvement of Quality of Life and mood conditions. The cognitive functions seem stable. Conclusions: Our first data are encouraging; we believe that it is important to enlarge our sample, in order to have more reliable results.