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Some people with epilepsy do not respond to anti-epileptic medication and are not suitable for surgery. Vagus nerve stimulation is a technique that was developed for the treatment of such patients.
It involves inserting an electronic stimulator (a vagal nerve stimulator) under the skin of the chest wall or under the arm on the left side, with a wire attached to the left vagus nerve. This then delivers intermittent electrical stimulation to the brain, which reduces the frequency and duration of seizures.
Unfortunately there is no way of knowing if the stimulator will work prior to insertion, however, the evidence to date is that it will not worsen epilepsy.
The operation to have the stimulator inserted usually takes no more than two hours and is generally performed under a general anaesthetic. Complications which have been reported following insertion include skin irritation, pain at the site of incision, hoarseness and coughing.
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