Vagal Nerve Stimulator Use During Pregnancy for Treatment of Refractory Seizure Disorder

BACKGROUND:In patients with medically refractory seizures, vagal nerve stimulation is becoming an increasingly common adjunctive therapy. Although its safety and efficacy have been proven in the general population, little is known about its use during pregnancy. CASE:A 19-year-old primigravid woman...

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Published inObstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 115; no. 2, Part 2 Suppl; pp. 417 - 419
Main Authors Houser, Molly V., Hennessy, Mark D., Howard, Bobby C.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hagerstown, MD The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 01.02.2010
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Subjects
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Combined Modality Therapy
Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic - complications
Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic - therapy
Female
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy
Humans
Medical sciences
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Neurology
Phenytoin - therapeutic use
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications - therapy
Treatment Outcome
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Young Adult
Nervous system diseases
Epilepsy
Gynecology
Stimulator
Obstetrics
Cerebral disorder
Pregnancy
Refractory
Treatment
Convulsion
Central nervous system disease
Vagus nerve
Neurological disorder
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Summary:BACKGROUND:In patients with medically refractory seizures, vagal nerve stimulation is becoming an increasingly common adjunctive therapy. Although its safety and efficacy have been proven in the general population, little is known about its use during pregnancy. CASE:A 19-year-old primigravid woman presented during the first trimester for routine prenatal care. She had a past medical history significant for generalized tonic–clonic seizure disorder since childhood. Multiple medical regimens had failed, and a vagal nerve stimulator was implanted approximately 2 months before conception. The patient continued to take phenytoin, with improved seizure control. She had a term spontaneous delivery complicated by mild preeclampsia. CONCLUSION:Adjunctive treatment of medically refractory seizures with a vagal nerve stimulator is a viable option during pregnancy.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Case Study-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0029-7844
1873-233X
DOI:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181bd1a8b