1. What is VNS therapy?
VNS therapy refers to vagus nerve stimulation, which uses a small medical device that sends electrical stimulation to the left branch of the vagus nerve in the neck. The electrical stimulation sent by the vagus nerve is then transmitted to the brain to reduce the irregular discharges that cause epilepsy.
2. What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is an important connection between the body and the brain, conducting sensory and motor information from the body to the brain and from the brain to the body. There is one on each side of the body. Given the purpose of VNS therapy, the left branch of the vagus nerve is stimulated.
3. What does the VNS therapy device look like?
VNS therapy uses a small pacemaker-like medical device (pulse generator) that sends small electrical pulses through wires and electrodes to stimulate the left branch of the vagus nerve in the neck.
4. How big is the device?
The device is approximately 6.99mm thick and 52mm in diameter.
5. How often does the device deliver electrical pulses?
VNS therapy can reduce the irregular discharges in the brain that trigger epilepsy. The frequency of the electrical pulses varies from person to person, with approximately 30 seconds of stimulation being sent to the brain every 3 to 5 minutes. The output current can be adjusted according to your actual needs. Once the VNS therapy generator has been set by your doctor or nurse, it will follow its program on a continuous cycle, 24 hours a day, for many years, and you may not even remember it exists.
6. How safe is VNS therapy?
VNS therapy has been clinically proven to be a safe therapy. More than 50,000 people around the world with epilepsy have received VNS therapy.
7. What is the procedure to implant the device?
VNS therapy is not cranial surgery. The procedure for implanting the device is simple and requires only two small incisions (neck and left side of the chest). The procedure can be performed after general anesthesia, and the surgery is very short and the hospital stay is not long.
8.Does the implantation hurt?
After the surgery, you may feel some pain at the incision. This will only last a few days and your doctor or nurse can prescribe you some painkillers during this time.
9. Will I be able to see the device after implantation?
The device is almost undetectable except for a small scar and a slight bulge on the chest. And the surgical scars can fade with time and eventually blend in with the natural folds of the neck.
10.What does a VNS therapy scar look like?
There are usually two scars, one located under the left clavicle or near the armpit from when the pulse generator was implanted, and the other on the left side of the neck from when the electrodes were placed. These scars are not large and are even blurred due to skin folds.
11. When does the device need to be repositioned? What happens then?
The device that generates the electrical impulses contains a miniature battery. Typically, the battery life is 6 to 11 years, the length of which depends on the current and previous use settings. At your follow-up visit, your doctor or nurse will check the battery life. When the battery is low, they will arrange for another battery to be implanted. This requires a very minor surgery, as only the generator needs to be replaced. The procedure takes less than an hour and can be performed under general or local anesthesia.
12. What happens immediately after the implantation?
After a short time of implantation, you will need to return to the hospital to see your doctor or nurse for a review, initially at approximately two week intervals. This process will involve monitoring your progress and changing the settings of the VNS device. After that, follow-up visits may be every few months.
13. How do I change the power generation parameter settings?
During regular follow-up visits, your doctor or nurse will personalize your discharge parameters to optimize your treatment based on the specific circumstances of your seizure, which is accomplished with a program stick and a handheld computer. The adjustment process is completely painless, takes only a few minutes, and there is no additional cost. once the VNS device is set up, it will follow its program in a continuous cycle and you may not even remember it is there.
14. Does VNS therapy interact with my medications?
VNS does not interact with medications at all.
15. Are the side effects the same as those of drugs?
VNS therapy is not a drug and does not cause drug-related central nervous system toxicity such as memory loss, confusion, drowsiness (sedative effects) and concentration problems.
16. So what are the side effects of VNS therapy?
The most common side effects of VNS therapy can include temporary hoarseness or change in voice tone, coughing, throat tickling, and chest tightness and breath-holding. These side effects usually appear during the stimulation phase and generally disappear gradually after about 1 month of adaptation.
17. Do household appliances interact with VNS devices?
Household appliances – such as microwave ovens and cell phones – do not have any effect on the VNS device. The device also does not affect the normal use of these household appliances.
18. Will it affect travel, especially metal detectors?
Again, there is no specific reason to worry about this. vns therapy is not affected by security systems, including metal detectors, and does not itself affect these devices. For the sake of caution, try to move through these devices at a smooth speed and do not linger in them.
19.Will it affect other medical examinations?
In general, there is no need to pay special attention. However, there are two exceptions: therapeutic hyperthermia (a therapy to promote wound healing or reduce pain). Patients receiving VNS therapy should not use any short-wave diathermy, microwave diathermy or therapeutic ultrasound. You should tell this to your doctor.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Special care must be taken. Before MRI is performed, a short shutdown is required, as prescribed by your doctor.
20.Can I take a shower after the VNS device is implanted?
Yes, you can shower by yourself without any problem. The device will not be affected by water.
21.Is it unsuitable to do certain sports for patients implanted with VNS generator?
You should always consult with your doctor or nurse before engaging in unsupervised activities such as driving, swimming, or strenuous exercise that can injure yourself or others.