New Hope for Seizure Patients

Many people with seizures are not helped by medicine alone. Sometimes treatments other than medication must be added to reduce the severity and number of seizures; VNS (vagus nerve stimulator) Therapy is one of the solutions - and it is available in Tifton, Georgia, through South Georgia Neurological Associates, P.C. (SGNA).

"Children and adults with refractory seizures, multiple drug resistances and special needs, such as those with cerebral palsy, mental retardation and developmental delays are good candidates for this treatment," said Anthony G. Giatras, MD, of SGNA. "Many of my patients who are eligible for this procedure have experienced significant reductions in their normal number of seizures after the implantation of the device."

VNS Therapy works by sending electrical stimuli to the brain along a nerve in the neck called the vagus nerve through a device implanted in the patient's chest during a surgical procedure. The device sits under the skin just below the collarbone or close to the armpit. Two tiny wires from the device wrap around the left vagus nerve. While the procedure sounds serious, it involves two small incisions, takes about an hour and is often performed on an outpatient basis.

"We program the VNS Therapy device to automatically send pulses of electricity to the vagus nerve 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Dr. Giatras. "The patient or caregiver can administer on-demand extra pulses as needed by using a special magnet worn on the wrist or clipped to a belt. Our office provides one-on-one training for patients, caregivers and families."

The technology operates on the following premise: Because the vagus nerve is connected directly to the brain, the process of stimulating it with electrical charges interrupts nerve impulses in the brain that would otherwise cause a seizure. It is accurate to think of the left vagus nerve of the neck, to which the VNS Therapy device is connected, as a "wire" to the brain.

People considering VNS Therapy should keep in mind the procedure may not cure seizures and it does not work for all seizure patients. Generally, the therapy is considered for patients who have been on several different medicines but still have disabling seizures. Studies show one third of patients treated with VNS Therapy over a period of time experience dramatic improvement in controlling their seizures with another third experiencing good improvement. Currently, 75 - 80 percent of patients with the VNS device will experience a greater than 50 percent reduction in seizure frequency.

Dr. Giatras notes many advances are being made in the treatment of epilepsy. VNS therapy is a great non-drug advancement allowing patients some control of their condition. "It is very gratifying to be able to bring this technology to Tifton and see the direct benefit it has for patients and their families in the management of seizure disorders and epilepsy," said Dr. Giatras.