Neurológia pre prax 3/2012

Options of vagus nerve stimulation other than epileptic surgery

Clinical results of vagus nerve stimulation in pharmacoresistant epilepsy patients and the data showing the widespread effect of vagus nerve stimulation on central nervous system structures elicits the consideration of vagus nerve implantation in another functional disorders. The most extensive data are available for the treatment of treatment resistant depression, data about other functional disorders are limited to case reports or small group of patients from single departments. Exact definition of indication criteria with respect to deep brain stimulation and definition of clinically usable predictors of clinical response are the prospectives for future research.

Keywords: vagus nerve stimulation, depression, anxiety disordes, headache.