The Effect of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Sleep Architecture
Abstract number :
1.100
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
3115
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
B.V. Vaughn, MD, Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; O.F. D[ssquote]Cruz, MD, Neurology, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC; E. Bernard, MD, Surgery, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC; A. Hinderliter, MD, Medicine, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC; S. Lannon
RATIONALE: Vagus nerve stimulation appears to evoke physiological change in many brainstem nuclei. Several of these nuclei are associated with the regulation of sleep. We previously noted, in a small group, a decrease in number of REM periods and total REM sleep in subjects receiving high intensity, high frequency vagus nerve stimulation.
METHODS: To examine the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on sleep, we performed full polysomnography on fifteen patients with intractable epilepsy before implantation and after three months of stimulation. All patients had high intensity, high frequency stimulation for the three months. The sleep studies were scored according to the Rechtschaffen and Kales criteria by a registered technologist who was blinded to treatment status and the studies were reviewed by a board-certified polysomnographer. Sleep architecture parameters were compared using a dependent t test.
RESULTS: We found a statistically significant decrease in stage 2 sleep after three months of stimulation. This decrease in stage 2 sleep did not have a related compensatory change in the other stages of sleep. Although we found a trend toward a decrease in number of REM periods with stimulation(p=0.12), we were unable to demonstrate a statistically significant decrease in total REM sleep or number of REM periods. All other parameters for sleep architecture showed no significant change during stimulation.
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a lack of statistically significant changes in REM sleep, which is in contrast to our previous pilot study. Although we did see a trend toward the decrease in number of REM periods, these data do not support the hypothesis that vagus nerve stimulation has a strong effect on the regulatory of REM sleep.
Support: This project was supported by a grant from Cyberonics.
Disclosure: Grant - Cyberonics Honoraria - Cyberonics