Blog

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of epilepsy has been designed to prevent or interrupt seizures by cycling or triggered electrical stimulation of the left vagus nerve. It is an empirically based method with limited knowledge on mechanisms of action. The vagus nerve has rich afferent connections to the brain stem and mesencephalon. The effect of VNS was suggested in animal studies and subsequently supported by randomized clinical trials in uncontrolled focal onset epilepsy. These findings led to European Community and US approval in 1994 and 1997, respectively [1].