Abstracts

Rationale: VNS, vagus nerve stimulation, epilepsy, childrenMethods: 42 patients 24M (57%) 18F (43%) were retrospectively evaluated between 2005 and May 2011. Mean age: 10.29 +/-3,61 (3,7 16.6). Mean age at implant: 7.72 +/- 2.71 (2.3-11.8) years. Mental retardation was observed in 38 patients (90%), and Autism was present in 5 subjects (11.9 %). Age at epilepsy onset: 1.7 +/- 2.09 (0 9), Duration of epilepsy by the time of implant: 6.01 +/-2.96 (0.7 10.7 years) Time of follow up: 2.38+/-1.40 (0.5 6 years). Number of AED: 3.42 +/- 0,83 (2 5). Thirty patients had partial seizures and 12 had multiple types of seizures. Seizures were counted at baseline and at the end of the study. VNS parameters: Output: 1.46 +/- 0.5 (0.25 2.25 mA), On time: 24.85 +/- 9.53 (7 30 sec), Off time: 3.94 +/-1.95 (0.3 5 min).Results: Mean number of seizures Pre-VNS: 461.57+/-998.36 (4 6000/month) Post-VNS: 151.59 +/- 461.90 (0 3000/month). Thirty patients (71.42%) had a decrease of 50% in the frequency of seizure and 26.1% of subjects (11 Patients) had a seizure reduction of more than 90%. Magnet effect YES: 22 (52.38%). Severe side effects: 11.6% (One patient had more seizures and one patient had a new type of seizures). Best response was observed in Symptomatic focal epilepsy.Conclusions: 1-Median seizure reduction was 63% at the end of the study. 2-Seizure reduction 50%: 71% and 90%: 26% at the end of the study. 3- Positive magnet effect was observed in 52% of cases. 4-Best response was observed in symptomatic focal epilepsy.