INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS FOR EPILEPSY AND DEPRESSION

Coast Plaza Hospital’s dedication to advancements in medicine enables us to offer Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), a newly developed outpatient surgery designed to treat patients who suffer from epileptic seizures and depression.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation implantation is a minor procedure, often performed under general anesthesia, where the surgeon implants a small generator the size of a pocket-watch in the shoulder. This device, called a stimulator, sends a tiny electrical current into the vagus nerve, which connects the brain with the chest and abdomen. This process is believed to regulate many of the connections to the brain that are prone to seizure activity. Surgery takes one to two hours, and patients typically go home the same day.

Studies show that most patients who undergo VNS surgery have a substantial reduction both in number and severity of seizures, allowing them to live more normal, active lives.

Recommended candidates for Vagus Nerve Stimulation include those patients who experience partial seizures or generalized seizures where consciousness is lost, as well as those who do not respond to anticonvulsant medication and cannot undergo brain surgery. VNS is currently being studied as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, migraines and fibromyalgia.

Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover VNS therapy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you have questions about whether VNS is right for you, please contact the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Program at (562) 868-3751, extension 2115.