This document discusses the vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) treatment for epilepsy. It begins with the story of an 18-year-old girl who developed severe epilepsy after a seizure caused burns in the shower. Her seizures were not well controlled by medications, so she underwent outpatient surgery to have a VNS device implanted. The VNS works by electrically stimulating the vagus nerve in the neck to help reduce seizure frequency and severity. While not a cure for epilepsy, the VNS provides an additional treatment option for patients whose seizures are not adequately controlled by medications alone.
3. SOMEWHERE
IN NYC, AN 18
YEAR OLD
GIRL LIVED
WITH
EPILEPSY....
STARTED OFF
NORMALLY. BUT
THAT CHANGED....
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/73014677@N05/6658825183/sizes/l/in/photostream/
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11. VNS
• VAGUS NERVE
STIMULATOR
• TO HELP TREAT
EPILEPSY
• DOES WORK TO
CONTROL SEIZURES
AP Images: http://classic.apimages.com/fronts/Default.aspx?sh=14
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12. NOT FULL CURE FOR
EPILEPSY BUT IS OPTION TO
HELP TREAT IT....
...IT’S AN ADDED-ON TREATMENT TO GO ALONG
WITH CURRENT MEDICATIONS
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14. EPILEPSY
(CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!)
• 4TH MOST COMMON
NEUROLOGICAL
DISORDER
• MIGRANES, STROKE, &
ALZHEIMER'S’ DISEASE
• ALMOST 3 MILLION
AMERICANS (2.5
MILLION) HAVE IT
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/zmtomako/3866365905/sizes/l/in/photostream/
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16. • ANTREL ROLLE
(FORMER NFL PLAYER)
...EVEN THE RICH AND FAMOUS....
• LIL’ WAYNE (RAPPER)
AP Images: http://classic.apimages.com/fronts/Default.aspx?sh=14
AP Images: http://classic.apimages.com/fronts/Default.aspx?sh=14
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19. • INITIALLY 4x/PER MONTH (average)
• IN SUBWAY, SUBWAY PLATFORMS, &
BED MAINLY
• SINCE VNS: ABOUT 2X/PER MONTH
(average) THEN EVEN MORE SPORADIC.
WHERE IT BEGAN...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/siwc/6260682715/sizes/z/in/photostream/
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20. MARCH 2013
• 3 BIG
SEIZURES
IN 1 DAY
• 1 WEEK
AFTER:
SEIZURE IN
KITCHEN
• DISCOVERY:
VNS
BATTERY
DIED.
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/25638762@N00/5472293329/in/photolist-‐9kyW9Z-‐5y5WVW-‐iWzfr-‐
etvkf-‐6XE35o-‐5foeoZ-‐5foeqD-‐6Cp1MP-‐6Cp8He-‐5foes2-‐vH9LP-‐oCXZX-‐n5ToB-‐6gZyQe-‐2QKMGx-‐5heXX7-‐24sjNB-‐87ZyF-‐87ZyJ-‐486hj1-‐6ULmfq
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21. • 1/3 OF PATIENTS WITH VNS HAD REDUCTION
OF 50%
• ALSO REDUCTION IN SEVERITY OF SEIZURES
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/juhansonin/7699595932/
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23. IN- AND-OUT ON SAME DAY
• PROCEDURE ABOUT 1-2 HOURS
• WAS IN EARLY IN MORNING, & GOT HOME
AROUND 5PM
• RECOVERY FOR TIMELY MATTER IN
HOSPITAL NOT NEEDED SO NOT AS COSTLY
• JUST NEED FEW HOURS TO SLEEP &
SOMEONE TO BRING YOU HOME.
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24. WHAT ARE SOME
EPILEPSY TREATMENTS
AVAILABLE?
• MEDICATIONS
• BRAIN SURGERY
• VNS (VAGUS NERVE STIMULATOR)
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/30027503@N08/3754203686/in/
photolist-‐6HKgXL-‐6Fusd7-‐6jteeA-‐6gxFmM-‐61UFUj-‐6CDTva-‐6EGzeS-‐8WGcDB-‐9LKSPz
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25. • MEDICATIONS: 1/3 GET POINT THEY
DON’T WORK WELL OR SOMETIMES
AT ALL
• BRAIN SURGERY: TO REMOVE
SMALL PART OF BRAIN THAT
STARTS THE SEIZURES.
• NOT ALL ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BRAIN
SURGERY OPTION.
SOME ISSUES OF CONCERN...
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26. VNS IS NOT AN
EXTREMELY LARGE OR
INVASIVE DEVICE
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27. • SIZE OF SILVER DOLLAR
• VNS COVERED BY MANY HEALTH
INSURANCES
• WIRE GOES FROM DEVICE TO ELECTRODE
ATTACHED ON VAGUS NERVE
• DEVICE ALWAYS PULSATES - TREATMENT
BEING GIVEN CONSISTENTLY & DAILY
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28. • PATIENT GETS MAGNET
AFTER PROCEDURE.
• MAGNET PURPOSE: T0
HELP 3RD PARTY
CONTROL/STOP
SEIZURES.
• MAGNET SET UP LIKE
WRISTBAND
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/65737797@N00/4847453271/in/photolist-‐8omsYx
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29. EFFECTS OF EPILEPSY
• 50 MILLION WORLDWIDE
• ALMOST 3 MILLION
AMERICANS
• PORTION OF PEOPLE
AREN’T GETTING
ADEQUATE SEIZURE
CONTROL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124401641@N01/833182621/in/photolist-2gChaB
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30. GET OUT THERE & LEARN AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE....
ABOUT EPILEPSY, THE VNS.....
JUST SPREAD THE
WORD!
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31. REFERENCES
1.AP Photo/Dave Zalubowski. (2013). Ap images - epilepsy search results. FSO AP Images
Collection (EBSCOHost). Retrieved from http://classic.apimages.com/fronts/Default.aspx?
sh=14
2.AP Photo/Dave J. Philip. (2004). Ap images - epilepsy search results. FSO AP Images
Collection (EBSCOHost). Retrieved from http://classic.apimages.com/fronts/Default.aspx?
sh=14
3.AP Photo/Dave J. Philip. (2004). Ap images - epilepsy search results. FSO AP Images
Collection (EBSCOHost). Retrieved from http://classic.apimages.com/fronts/Default.aspx?
sh=14
4.AP Photo/Dave Martin. (2013). Ap images - lil wayne epilepsy search result . FSO AP Images
Collection (EBSCOHost). Retrieved from http://classic.apimages.com/fronts/Default.aspx?
sh=14
5.AP Photo/Dave Zalubowski. (2013). Ap images - epilepsy search results. FSO AP Images
Collection (EBSCOHost). Retrieved from http://classic.apimages.com/fronts/Default.aspx?
sh=14
6.istolethetv. (Photographer). (2007, July 15). flickr.com - bridal veil falls [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124401641@N01/833182621/in/
photolist-2gChaB
Sunday, July 21, 13
32. REFERENCES (cont.)
7.J.G., N. (Photographer). (2010, July 29). flickr.com - VNS Wristband [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/65737797@N00/4847453271/in/
photolist-8omsYx
8.Jess. (Photographer). (2011, February 23). flickr.com - Epileptic by David B. cover
[Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/25638762@N00/5472293329/
in/photolist-9kyW9Z-5y5WVW-iWzfr-
etvkf-6XE35o-5foeoZ-5foeqD-6Cp1MP-6Cp8He-5foes2-vH9LP-oCXZX-
n5ToB-6gZyQe-2QKMGx-5heXX7-24sjNB-87ZyF-87ZyJ-486hj1-6ULmfq
9.Sonin, J. (Photographer). (2012, August 2). flickr.com - Doctor & patient drawing [Web
Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/juhansonin/7699595932/
10.Nodalo, K. (Photographer). (2009, July 25). flickr.com - Just like a pill.. [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/30027503@N08/3754203686/in/
photolist-6HKgXL-6Fusd7-6jteeA-6gxFmM-61UFUj-6CDTva-6EGzeS-8WGcDB-9LKSPz
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