Keep the magnet away from magnetic strips on credit and debit cards. The magnet may deactivate the card. Many people will be implanted with a VNS with an auto-stimulation feature.
With auto stimulation the device will give an extra stimulation when the heart rate reaches a certain level quickly. This quick increase in the heart rate may mean the person is starting to have a seizure, and this extra stimulation may stop or shorten the seizure. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. Reason for the VNS Seizures are difficult to control with medicine alone or if other surgeries are not an option.
Before Surgery An appointment will be scheduled for you and your child to meet the doctor neurosurgeon and discuss the procedure. After Surgery Most patients will be discharged the same day.
There will be a wound check appointment for your child with Neurosurgery in 2 weeks. Side Effects Common side effects of VNS therapy are: Hoarseness or changes in voice tone Prickling feeling in the skin Shortness of breath Sore throat Coughing These side effects may occur during stimulation and improve over time. Airport security and other metal detectors should not affect the VNS. Cards are found in the box with the magnets. Some people have a warning or aura which is a focal aware seizure that tells them that they are going to have a further seizure.
When this happens, a special magnet can be passed over the stimulator to give stronger stimulation for a slightly longer period of time. This may stop the aura from developing into another seizure, or may reduce how long it takes the person to recover after a seizure. Keep the magnet close by - it can be worn on the wrist like a watch, or on a belt, or attached to a wheelchair.
For people who have no warning before a seizure, someone else could use the magnet for them when a seizure happens. Some people may experience an increase in heart rate during their seizures.
VNS therapy can cause side effects but usually only during the time that the nerve is being stimulated. Side effects may not happen for everyone but can include discomfort in the throat, a cough, difficulty swallowing, and a hoarse voice. Side effects may reduce over time and do not usually mean that the stimulator has to be switched off.
If side effects are a problem, the neurologist or nurse can adjust the settings, or the magnet can be held over the stimulator for a few seconds to briefly stop the stimulation. Some people feel that VNS therapy improves their mood, memory, or alertness, and may also help reduce depression or have a positive effect on their quality of life overall wellbeing. VNS therapy does not work for everyone.
If there is no benefit received from VNS therapy, you and your specialist may consider having it switched off or removed. Even if VNS therapy has no effect on the seizures, it might have other positive effects see previous question. If you have VNS therapy and need an MRI, it is important that everyone involved with the scan is aware so that they can decide if the scan can be done.
The MRI's magnetic fields can cause the leads to overheat, which may cause burns to the skin near the electrodes or leads. Risks depend on the MRI machine used and the type of scan you need. It may be possible to scan the brain with an MRI scanner that has a very specific strength setting. This is because they do not produce enough radiation to cause damage to the stimulator.
However, extra care may be needed, or the stimulator may need to be switched off for the scan, and turned back on again afterwards. At the airport, you can provide security officers with your VNS Therapy ID card, which explains that you have an implanted medical device. You can request a pat down check instead. Anti-epileptic drugs AEDs are the main type of treatment for most people with epilepsy that aims to stop seizures from happening.
In order for a person to be suitable for surgery, it is necessary to confirm that seizures are arising from one part of the brain and that it is safe to remove this part. This requires many tests including MRI brain scans.
The vagus nerve sends information from the brain to other areas of the body. It also carries information from the body to the brain. Donate to Support Our Mission.
This therapy does not cure epilepsy. VNS is used for people with refractory or drug-resistant epilepsy. This means seizures are not controlled after trying at least 2 appropriate seizure medications.
When considering VNS, ideally a person is first seen at a comprehensive epilepsy center to make sure that all options have been explored and that the procedure is right for them. Over the years, technology has allowed new features to be added. There are now 3 groups of devices. This model was the first one to automatically give stimulation when periods of increased heart rate are detected. Find an epilepsy specialist to help you explore this, and other, treatment options.
Additional information for patients and physicians is available on their website www.
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