Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Quality of Life and Patient's Satisfaction
Abstract number :
3.319
Submission category :
9. Surgery
Year :
2011
Submission ID :
15385
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/2/2011 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Oct 4, 2011, 07:57 AM
Authors :
F. A. Al-Otaibi, S. Baz, A. Abujaber, A. Alsemari
Rationale: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy reduces seizures in certain patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy who are not candidate for resective surgery. Despite the extensive research in this field there is a variability in the impact of VNS on quality of life (QOL) and patients satisfaction rate.Methods: A group of 24 consecutive patients who underwent VNS therapy for epilepsy managment at our institution were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups; responders and non responders. The response to VNS was defined as > 50% reduction of seizure frequency. QOL was measured using QOLEI-31 inventory for the adult group and QOLCE for pediatric age group. Patients satisfaction was rated based on a scale from 0 to 10. These were correlated with the epileptic syndromes, radiological and neuropsychology findings in addition to procedure related complications.Results: 20 adults and 4 pediatrics with a mean follow-up of 16 months after VNS implantation were identified. Of those, 33% (n=8) were considered responders ( > 50% seizure frequency reduction). Only one patient from the adult group reached Engel class-II. 16 % (n=4) had a satisfaction of >50% and 20 % (n=5) had more than 50% improvement in quality of life score. Radiological and neuropsychological abnormalities did not correlate with seizure frequency reduction or QOL scores. The main factor that impact QOL is the significant seizure frequency reduction (>70%). In this group most of the patient with Lennox Gastaut syndrome responded to VNS therapy. Complications includes hoarseness in 2 patients and intermittent shortness of breath in one. None of these side effects impact QOL or patients satisfaction.Conclusions: Significant seizure frequency reduction ( >70%) was the main factor that impact quality of life and patients satisfaction. However, this result need to be verified in a study with large number of patients.
Surgery