Vagus Nerve Stimulation
If medication doesn't work or there are too many problems with side effects for your child, you may want to ask your doctor about vagus nerve stimulation therapy. Currently, VNS is only approved for adults and children over the age of 12. This fairly new treatment works by sending small, regular bursts of electrical energy to the vagus nerve, a large nerve in the neck that leads directly to the brain.
A flat, round battery, a little larger than a quarter, is implanted under the skin in the chest wall. The surgery to do this takes about one hour and sometimes requires an overnight stay in the hospital.
The battery is programmed to send a few seconds of electrical energy to the vagus nerve every few minutes. Children are also taught how to activate or discharge a burst of electrical energy if they feel that they are about to have a seizure.
The most common side effects with VNS are hoarseness or throat pain. While VNS does not usually stop seizures completely, most people find that they have them less often. They usually have to continue to take anti-epileptic medication, but can often reduce the amount they take.
