Vagus nerve stimulation in children with refractory epilepsy: age at implantation as a predictor of better efficacy

In this study, the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation treatment was analyzed in a cohort of 70 children with refractory epilepsy. Both children with partial (n=16) and generalized epilepsies (n=54) were included. Age at implantation varied between 19 months and 25 years. Overall, responder rate was 54% with 5.7% of the children becoming seizure free. The only factor in our analysis that could predict good outcome was age at implantation. In the youngest age group (<5 years), responder rate was 77% and this group also included 3 of the 4 seizure free children. These 3 seizure free children were known to suffer from tuberous sclerosis. There were no outcome differences comparing generalized with partial epilepsies.

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