Devices in the treatment of epilepsy. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The goal of the treatment of epilepsy is to eliminate seizures while causing no side effects. For persons whose seizures are refractory, epilepsy surgery may be an option. In addition, these patients may benefit from the vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), the first device approved for the treatment of refractory epilepsy. Although VNS was the first to be approved, investigators have been interested in the effectiveness of stimulating other brain regions: the cerebellum, thalamus, subthalamic nucleus, and locus coeruleus are a few examples. These studies have produced mixed results. As our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of epilepsy grows, it is likely that we will design better and more effective devices for the treatment of epilepsy.

publication date

  • September 1, 2002

Research

keywords

  • Cerebellum
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy
  • Epilepsy
  • Thalamus
  • Vagus Nerve

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0036765275

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1055/s-2002-36646

PubMed ID

  • 12528051

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 22

issue

  • 3