ABSTRACT
Introducción: La estimulación del nervio vago (ENV) se ha mostrado como una terapia complementaria al tratamiento farmacológico en pacientes con epilepsia refractaria. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar la eficacia de la ENV en relación con la disminución del número, intensidad y duración de las crisis, con la reducción del número de fármacos antiepilépticos y con la mejoría de la calidad de vida. Material y métodos: Se analizó la evolución de 70 pacientes con epilepsia refractaria, tratados mediante ENV en el Hospital General Universitario de Alicante y en el Hospital Clínico de Valencia. Se recogieron variables pre- y postoperatorias. La diferencia en la frecuencia tras la estimulación vagal se clasificó mediante la escala de McHugh. También se recogieron los cambios en la duración e intensidad de las crisis y la disminución de la medicación junto con la modificación de la calidad de vida. Resultados: El 12,86% de los pacientes se clasificaron como McHugh I, el 44,29% como ii, el 40% como iii y el 2,86% como iv-v. Un 57,15% de los pacientes presentaron una reducción superior al 50% en la frecuencia de las crisis. Un 88% de los pacientes presentaron una mejoría en la duración de las crisis, en el 68% disminuyó la intensidad, un 66% toman menos fármacos y en el 93% mejoró la calidad de vida. Conclusiones: La ENV ha mostrado disminuir la frecuencia de las crisis, así como la duración, la intensidad y el consumo de fármacos, ofreciendo además una mejoría en la calidad de vida de nuestros pacientes. (AU)
Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is used as a complementary therapy to pharmacological treatment in patients with refractory epilepsy. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of VNS in reducing seizure frequency, severity, and duration; reducing the number of antiepileptic drugs administered; and improving patients quality of life. Material and methods: We analysed the clinical progression of 70 patients with refractory epilepsy treated with VNS at Hospital Universitario de Alicante and Hospital Clínico de Valencia. Data were collected before and after the procedure. The difference in seizure frequency pre- and post-VNS was classified using the McHugh scale. Data were also collected on seizure duration and severity, the number of drugs administered, and quality of life. Results: According to the McHugh classification, 12.86% of the patients were Class I, 44.29% were Class II, 40% were Class III, and the remaining 2.86% of patients were Class IV-V. A ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency was observed in 57.15% of patients. Improvements were observed in seizure duration in 88% of patients and in seizure severity in 68%; the number of drugs administered was reduced in 66% of patients, and 93% reported better quality of life. Conclusions: VNS is effective for reducing seizure frequency, duration, and severity and the number of antiepileptic drugs administered. It also enables an improvement in patients quality of life. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Quality of Life , Vagus Nerve Stimulation , Drug Resistant Epilepsy/therapy , Seizures , Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is used as a complementary therapy to pharmacological treatment in patients with refractory epilepsy. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of VNS in reducing seizure frequency, severity, and duration; reducing the number of antiepileptic drugs administered; and improving patients' quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed the clinical progression of 70 patients with refractory epilepsy treated with VNS at Hospital Universitario de Alicante and Hospital Clínico de Valencia. Data were collected before and after the procedure. The difference in seizure frequency pre- and post-VNS was classified using the McHugh scale. Data were also collected on seizure duration and severity, the number of drugs administered, and quality of life. RESULTS: According to the McHugh classification, 12.86% of the patients were Class I, 44.29% were Class II, 40% were Class III, and the remaining 2.86% of patients were Class IV-V. A ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency was observed in 57.15% of patients. Improvements were observed in seizure duration in 88% of patients and in seizure severity in 68%; the number of drugs administered was reduced in 66% of patients, and 93% reported better quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: VNS is effective for reducing seizure frequency, duration, and severity and the number of antiepileptic drugs administered. It also enables an improvement in patients' quality of life.
Subject(s)
Drug Resistant Epilepsy , Vagus Nerve Stimulation , Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use , Drug Resistant Epilepsy/therapy , Humans , Quality of Life , Seizures , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is used as a complementary therapy to pharmacological treatment in patients with refractory epilepsy. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of VNS in reducing seizure frequency, severity, and duration; reducing the number of antiepileptic drugs administered; and improving patients' quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed the clinical progression of 70 patients with refractory epilepsy treated with VNS at Hospital Universitario de Alicante and Hospital Clínico de Valencia. Data were collected before and after the procedure. The difference in seizure frequency pre- and post-VNS was classified using the McHugh scale. Data were also collected on seizure duration and severity, the number of drugs administered, and quality of life. RESULTS: According to the McHugh classification, 12.86% of the patients were Class I, 44.29% were Class II, 40% were Class III, and the remaining 2.86% of patients were Class IV-V. A≥50% reduction in seizure frequency was observed in 57.15% of patients. Improvements were observed in seizure duration in 88% of patients and in seizure severity in 68%; the number of drugs administered was reduced in 66% of patients, and 93% reported better quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: VNS is effective for reducing seizure frequency, duration, and severity and the number of antiepileptic drugs administered. It also enables an improvement in patients' quality of life.
Subject(s)
Encephalitis/complications , Motor Cortex , Movement Disorders/etiology , Acute Disease , Female , Humans , InfantABSTRACT
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