Single-center long-term results of vagus nerve stimulation for pediatric epilepsy: a 10-17-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: A retrospective study, based on a prospectively built database, presents the results of long-term follow-up care of pediatric vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) patients in terms of seizure outcome, surgical aspects, the potential impact of maturation, and medication changes. METHODS: From a prospectively built database, 16 VNS patients (median age 12.0 years, range 6.0 to 16.0 years; median seizure duration 6.5 years, range 2.0 to 15.5 years) followed for at least 10 years were graded as non-responder - NR (seizure frequency reduction < 50%), responder - R (reduction ≥ 50% and < 80%), and 80% responder - 80R (reduction ≥ 80%). Data about surgical aspects (battery replacement, system complications), seizure dynamics, and medication changes were taken from the database. RESULTS: The early percentages of good results (80R + R) were 43.8% (year 1), 50.0% (year 2), and 43.8% (year 3). These percentages remained stable between years 10 and 12 (50% year 10; 46.7% year 11; 50% year 12) and increased in years 16 (60%) and 17 (75%). Depleted batteries were replaced in ten patients, six of whom were either R or 80R. In the four NR, the indication for replacement was improved quality of life. Three patients had VNS explanted or switched off-one had repeated asystolia and two were NR. The effect of hormonal changes in menarche on seizure was not proven. During the study, antiseizure medication was changed in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study proved the efficacy and safety of VNS in pediatric patients over an exceptionally long follow-up period. The demand for battery replacements indicates a positive treatment effect.

Deleterious effects of bretylium on hemodynamic recovery from ventricular fibrillation.

To study the effects of bretylium on the restoration of circulatory function after resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation, closed-chest anesthetized dogs were electrically fibrillated for 1 minute followed by defibrillation (direct-current shock). After one control episode of fibrillation and defibrillation, 16 dogs received a bolus of bretylium (10 mg/kg intravenously). A second episode of fibrillation and defibrillation was induced in eight dogs 3 minutes after bretylium and in eight dogs 4 hours after bretylium. Prior to bretylium, mean arterial blood pressure spontaneously recovered to exceed 200 mm Hg by 2 minutes after defibrillation in all 16 dogs. However, after bretylium, 13 of 16 dogs were in electromechanical dissociation 2 minutes after defibrillation (p less than 0.001). Despite external chest compression, epinephrine, and sodium bicarbonate, a stable blood pressure could not be restored in 6 of 16 dogs. Clofilium, a bretylium analogue lacking sympathetic influences, did not alter the pattern of hemodynamic recovery following defibrillation in five of five dogs. The results suggest that the effects of bretylium on the sympathetic nervous system may profoundly influence the outcome of cardiac resuscitation from fibrillation.