Vagus nerve stimulation therapy for post－encephalitic intractable epilepsy in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)on post－encephalitic intrac-table epilepsy and the improvement of postoperative cognitive function and quality of life.Methods The patients with post－encephalitic epilepsy in Sanbo Brain Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2008 to December 2016 were selected.A single center and retrospective study method was used to evaluate the cognitive function,social function of preoperative and postoperative and postoperative seizure classification.The follow－up time points included preopera-tive,posto-perative in 6 months,1 year after operation and postoperative annual review.Results A total of 43 patients were followed up,including 19 females and 24 males,with an average age of (9.37 ± 4.18)years old.The time of fol-low－up was (43.90 ± 33.04)months.According to Engel classification:GradeⅠ3 cases (7.0%),gradeⅡ3 ca-ses (7. 0%),grade Ⅲ14 cases (32.6%),grade Ⅳ21 cases (48.8%).According to McHugh classification:GradeⅠ8 cases (18.6%),grade Ⅱ12 cases (28%),gradeⅢ11 cases (25.5%),gradeⅣ6 cases (14.0%),gradeⅤ4 cases (9.3%).Speech improvement of postoperative:significant improvement in 3 cases (7.0%),slightly improved in 17 cases (39.6%);interpersonal communication improvement of postoperative:significantly increased 7 cases (16. 4%), slightly improved 16 cases(37.2%);learning/working ability improvement of postoperative:significantly improved 6 cases (14. 0%),slightly increased 14 cases(32. 6%).The postoperative VIQ (6.21 ±5.02)scores,PIQ (7.28 ±6.10)scores,FIQ (2.93 ±3.74)scores and MQ were (4.81 ± 2.98)scores higher than preoperative.Conclusions VNS can effectively im-prove the seizures of post－encephalitic epilepsy as well as the children's quality of life,cognition and social function.