Vagus nerve stimulation therapy: 5-year or greater outcome at a university-based epilepsy center

AbstractObjective: This retrospective study documented long-term outcome of patients receiving vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy for pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Methods: Medical charts of 28 patients implanted for 5 years or longer were reviewed for changes in seizure frequency after 1 year of VNS therapy and at follow up, which ranged from 5 to 7 years. Numbers of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) taken by the patients were also computed at 1 year and follow up. One patient had died and one had discontinued VNS therapy; data were available for 26 patients. Results: The median percent change in seizure frequency from baseline increased from −28% (P=0.0053, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) at 12 months to −72% (P