What is the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Surgery? How we performed the Vagus Nerve Stimulation surgery? which patients are Candidate to Vagus Nerve Stimulation Surgery? Which factors are important to decide to do Vagus Nerve Stimulation Surgery? What are the risks of the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Surgery?
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) are used to treat drug-resistant (intractable) epilepsy and major depression disorder (resistant to medical treatment). Vagus Nerve Stimulation surgery (sometimes referred to as a "epilepsy battery") is a technological surgical procedure involving, the placement of an electrode over the vagus nerve (the vagus nerve is located in left neck area), and connecting this electrode to a implantable pulse generator which implanted to left chest area under the clavicle.
This implantable pulse generator (medical battery) sends electrical impulses to the vagus nerve through implanted electrodes, the Vagus nerve transfers these electrical impulses to the special brain area to inhbit the abnormal signals which responsible for seizures.
We cannot say the Vagus Nerve Stimulation is a difficult surgery but since the operation is risky the exerience of the surgeon is crutial. The surgery is mostly done under general anesthesia.
Firstly, the electrode must be implanted over the left Vagus nerve which located in the cervical area (neck area). After the electrode implantation, the electrode cable must be tunneled under the skin and connected to the implantable pulse generator which implanted under left clavicle (left chest area).
The best advantages such these operations are reversibility and adjustability (all Neuromodulation approaches like Intrathecal Baclofen Pump, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Deep Brain Stimulation, Sacral Nerve Stimulation, and Vagal Stimulation and are reversible interventions, therefore they never result with permanent damage).
The Vagus nerve stimulation surgery is intended for patients who have failed or cannot tolerate more conservative treatments for epilepsy or major depression.
The most important factor about the vagus nerve stimulation surgery decision is;
when the patient failed or cannot tolerate more conservative treatments like medications.
General complications of any surgeries are infection, bleeding, and reactions to anesthesia. Since Vagus Nerve Stimulation surgical area around the neck there are a lot of critical structures. The patients may complain about the difficulty swallowing, vocal cord paralysis after the surgery, which is usually temporary but though also low probability this complications can be permanent. In that point the evaluation of the patient before the surgery by an experienced team and the experience of the surgeon is so crucial.
Please contact us now for further information!