The vagal nerve stimulation is a new technique for the treatment of
drug resistant epilepsies. DEVELOPMENT: In 1997, it was approved in United States
by the FDA to be used in adults with refractory focal epilepsies not candidates
for epilepsy surgery. Its mechanism of action is unknown. The results in the
controlled studies indicated a decrease of 30 50% in the seizure frequency in
around 50% of the patients. Although more experience is needed to corroborate
these results, it seems reasonable as a treatment for patients with difficult
epilepsies, especially when the response to the antiepileptic drugs is poor or
they are producing secondary effects, and the resection of the focus is not
possible
