The amount of stimulation varies by case but is usually initiated at a low level and slowly increased to a suitable level for the individual. The device runs continuously and is programmed to turn on and shut off for specific periods of time — for example, 30 seconds on and 5 minutes off. Patients are provided with a handheld magnet Magnet Bracelet, Figure 4 to control the stimulator at home which must be activated by the physician to magnet mode. When the magnet is swept over the pulse generator site, extra stimulation is delivered regardless of the treatment schedule.
Holding the magnet over the pulse generator will turn the stimulation off while the magnet is in position. Removing it will resume the stimulation cycle. All maneuvers performed with the magnet can be done by the patient, family members, friends or caregivers. Side effects are most commonly related to stimulation and usually improve over time. These may include any of the following:. Of these, hoarseness, coughing, throat tickling and shortness of breath are the most common and are usually temporary.
If you have received VNS, you should monitor your condition and overall health closely. If any of the following occur, call your doctor right away:.
In addition, you should call your physician before you undergo any medical tests that might affect, or be affected by VNS, such as magnetic resonance imaging MRI , or before you have any other medical devices implanted. VNS may be considered as a treatment option in patients who have tried two or more anti-epileptic drugs AEDs without adequate control of their seizures or in patients who have not responded to AEDs and cannot undergo brain surgery.
In addition, VNS is considered a palliative procedure which can effectively improve seizure control but does not generally produce complete seizure-freedom. The goal of VNS is to reduce the number, length and severity of seizures. VNS may also reduce the time it takes to recover after a seizure. However, VNS is not successful in all patients.
The success of this treatment differs — some patients report less frequent seizures, others report a slight reduction, while some patients do not respond at all. For people with warnings auras before their seizures, activating the stimulator with the magnet when the warning occurs may help shorten or even stop the seizures.
Soon after VNS was approved by the FDA as a seizure treatment, reports indicated a possible decrease in depression symptoms in patients who had the device implanted for seizure control. The vagus nerve sends information from the brain to other areas of the body. It also carries information from the body to the brain. Donate to Support Our Mission. This therapy does not cure epilepsy. VNS is used for people with refractory or drug-resistant epilepsy.
This means seizures are not controlled after trying at least 2 appropriate seizure medications. When considering VNS, ideally a person is first seen at a comprehensive epilepsy center to make sure that all options have been explored and that the procedure is right for them.
Over the years, technology has allowed new features to be added. There are now 3 groups of devices. This model was the first one to automatically give stimulation when periods of increased heart rate are detected. Find an epilepsy specialist to help you explore this, and other, treatment options. Additional information for patients and physicians is available on their website www.
When the device fires it stimulates that nerve to send signals to the brain. This increases activity in areas that control mood. The pulse generator is turned on during a visit to your doctor's office a few weeks after surgery. Then it can be programmed to deliver electrical impulses to the vagus nerve at various durations, frequencies and currents. Vagus nerve stimulation usually starts at a low level and is gradually increased, depending on your symptoms and side effects.
Stimulation is programmed to turn on and off in specific cycles — such as 30 seconds on, five minutes off. You may have some tingling sensations or slight pain in your neck and temporary hoarseness when the nerve stimulation is on.
The stimulator doesn't detect seizure activity or depression symptoms. When it's turned on, the stimulator turns on and off at the intervals selected by your doctor. You can use a hand-held magnet to initiate stimulation at a different time, for example, if you sense an impending seizure. The magnet can also be used to temporarily turn off the vagus nerve stimulation, which may be necessary when you do certain activities such as public speaking, singing or exercising, or when you're eating if you have swallowing problems.
You'll need to visit your doctor periodically to make sure that the pulse generator is working correctly and that it hasn't shifted out of position. Check with your doctor before having any medical tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging MRI , which might interfere with your device.
Implanted vagus nerve stimulation isn't a cure for epilepsy. Most people with epilepsy won't stop having seizures or taking epilepsy medication altogether after the procedure.
But many will have fewer seizures, up to 20 to 50 percent fewer. Seizure intensity may lessen as well. It can take months or even a year or longer of stimulation before you notice any significant reduction in seizures. Vagus nerve stimulation may also shorten the recovery time after a seizure. People who've had vagus nerve stimulation to treat epilepsy may also experience improvements in mood and quality of life.
Research is still mixed on the benefits of implanted vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of depression. Some studies suggest the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation for depression accrue over time, and it may take at least several months of treatment before you notice any improvements in your depression symptoms.
Implanted vagus nerve stimulation doesn't work for everybody, and it isn't intended to replace traditional treatments. Studies of implanted vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, headaches and rheumatoid arthritis have been too small to draw any definitive conclusions about how well it may work for those problems.
More research is needed. Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients. Janice Breien was anxious to find a better way to manage the seizures that regularly disrupted her daily life. Enter her Mayo care team -- ready to listen and provide solutions.
Now, with her seizures under control, Janice has a renewed sense of optimism. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Vagus nerve stimulation involves the use of a device to stimulate the vagus nerve with electrical impulses.
Vagus nerve stimulation Open pop-up dialog box Close. Vagus nerve stimulation In vagus nerve stimulation, an implanted pulse generator and lead wire stimulate the vagus nerve, which leads to stabilization of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
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