Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a safe and reliable treatment adjunct for patients with medically intractable epilepsy. It is both a preventive and an abortive form of therapy, potentially effective against both partial and generalized seizures in adults and children. VNS also has a number of serendipitous effects on mood, memory, and attention and has been approved for the treatment of refractory depression. Because of its pleiotropic effects, it holds promise for several other diseases as well. Its principal limitations are its unknown mechanism of action, the low likelihood of complete cure, and the inability to predict which patients will derive substantial benefit. This paper reviews the theoretical rationale, practical background, and clinical applications of VNS therapy.