Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with SenTivaTM VNS Therapy® by LivaNova

VNS Therapy® (also called vagus nerve stimulation) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an add-on therapy for adults and children 4 years and older. It is approved to treat focal or partial seizures that do not respond to seizure medications. This is called drug-resistant epilepsy or refractory epilepsy.

Download this factsheet to learn about VNS, how it works, and who can use it.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a type of neuromodulation. It is designed to change how brain cells work by giving electrical stimulation to certain areas involved in seizures.

The vagus nerve is part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls functions of the body that are not under voluntary control (such as heart rate and breathing). The vagus nerve sends information from the brain to other areas of the body. It also carries information from the body to the brain.

This therapy does not cure epilepsy. It’s designed to help control seizures by lessening the number and severity of seizures.

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.

Here are a few questions that need to be asked.

Over the years, technology has allowed new features to be added. There are now 3 groups of devices.

These are the earliest devices. These have the basic programming features.

This is the newest model of vagus nerve stimulation.

Find an epilepsy specialist to help you explore this, and other, treatment options.

The VNS Therapy® implant devices are built by LivaNova (formerly Cyberonics, Inc.). Additional information for patients and physicians is available on their website (www.livanova.com/epilepsy-vnstherapy ).

Images on this page included with permission from LivaNova.

Authored By:Patricia O. Shafer RN, MN and Patricia M. Dean ARNP, MSN, CNRN

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