Complete removal of vagus nerve stimulator generator and electrodes: Technical note
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation has become widely used in the palliative treatment of refractory epilepsy. Removal of a vagus nerve stimulator may be desirable or even necessary due to lack of efficacy, intolerable side effects, signs of infection, or failure of the device. Unless the lead or the helical electrodes are defective, only the generator is explanted and the electrodes are usually left behind for fear of damaging nerve or surrounding structures. The authors review their experience with complete removal of the stimulating electrodes and pacemaker-like generator device in 9 consecutive patients, 3 of whom were children. Using microsurgical techniques, the authors were able to completely remove the stimulator, including electrodes in all patients. All nerves remained morphologically intact. One case of temporary and one of permanent clinically silent ipsilateral vocal cord paresis were observed.
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Several adverse reactions caused by these drawbacks have been reported clinically, such as vomiting, cough, and difficulty in breathing in VNS therapy.
“Several adverse reactions caused by these drawbacks have been reported clinically, such as vomiting, cough, and difficulty in breathing in VNS therapy (18, 19).”
From Climbing-inspired twining electrodes using shape memory for peripheral nerve stimulation and recording (2019) · cites this paper as [19]
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Influential
- Authors
- Ortler, M., Unterhofer, C., Dobesberger, J., Haberlandt, E., & Trinka, E.
- Affiliations
- Innsbruck Medical University (AT)
- Clinical Departments of Neurosurgery
- Neurology, and
- Corresponding author
- Ortler, Martin
- Venue
- Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics
- Published
- 2010-02
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 191-194
- ISSN
- 1933-0707 (ISSN-L)
- 1933-0715
- OpenAlex
- W1504000282
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Neurological disorders and treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Epilepsy research and treatment
- Keywords
- vagus nerve stimulation, electrode removal, helical electrodes, microsurgical technique, drug-resistant epilepsy, pediatric epilepsy, vocal cord paresis, nerve injury
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Child, Preschool, Electrodes, Implanted, Electric Stimulation Therapy, Epilepsy, Female, Humans, Male, Microsurgery, Postoperative Complications, Vagus Nerve, Vocal Cord Paralysis, Neurosurgical Procedures, Device Removal
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