Successful implantation and immediate activation of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) during pregnancy in a patient with intractable epilepsy: A case illustration and review of the literature

N Jazebi; N Moghimi; R Lall; E Osadebey; J Ortega-Barnett; T Masel

doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2017.03.044

Successful implantation and immediate activation of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) during pregnancy in a patient with intractable epilepsy: A case illustration and review of the literature

J Clin Neurosci. 2017 Aug:42:114-115. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2017.03.044. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Authors

N Jazebi¹, N Moghimi², R Lall³, E Osadebey³, J Ortega-Barnett³, T Masel²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States. Electronic address: nojazebi@utmb.edu.
² Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States.

PMID: 28410885
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2017.03.044

Abstract

While Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is proven to be a safe and effective adjunctive therapy in the general population with medically intractable seizures, little is published about its implantation during pregnancy. Here we illustrate the case of a 21year old primigravid woman with medically refractory seizures who underwent safe and successful VNS implantation and immediate activation of the device in her 32nd week of pregnancy, resulting in dramatically improved seizure control and subsequent delivery of a healthy baby.

Keywords: Epilepsy; Pregnancy; Refractory seizures; Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS).

Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Drug Resistant Epilepsy / surgery*
Drug Resistant Epilepsy / therapy*
Female
Humans
Implantable Neurostimulators*
Pregnancy
Treatment Outcome
Vagus Nerve Stimulation*
Young Adult