scholarly journals Temporary resolution of hemicrania continua following ipsilateral ear piercing

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e000193
Author(s):  
Alexander Bryson
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Hemicrania Continua ◽  
Trigeminovascular System ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Complications ◽  
Ear Piercing ◽  
Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgia

BackgroundHemicrania continua is an uncommon subtype of trigeminal autonomic cephalgia that exhibits dramatic therapeutic response to indomethacin. Unfortunately, indomethacin is associated with a range of adverse effects, including neuropsychiatric complications, which limits its use in many patients. Although no other effective pharmacologic agents exist, there is emerging evidence for interventional treatments such as occipital nerve and vagus nerve stimulation, which may act by modulating neural activity within the trigeminovascular system.CaseWe present a 30-year-old woman with long-standing refractory hemicrania continua who suffered adverse effects to indomethacin. She experienced temporary, but near-complete, symptom resolution following piercing of the crus of the ear helix ipsilateral to her headache, whereas contralateral piercing produced no benefit.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this case is the first to describe a therapeutic benefit following ear piercing in a patient with trigeminal autonomic cephalgia. We argue that symptom relief was obtained through a similar mechanism to occipital or vagus nerve stimulation.

Vagus nerve stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy: the efficacy and adverse effects in a 5-year follow-up study in Iran

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1773-1778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Pakdaman ◽  
Ali Amini Harandi ◽  
Mehdi Abbasi ◽  
Mohammad Karimi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Arami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Drug Resistant Epilepsy

scholarly journals Effect and Safety of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Recovery of Upper Limb Motor Function in Subacute Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Randomized Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Dandong Wu ◽  
Jingxi Ma ◽  
Liping Zhang ◽  
Sanrong Wang ◽  
Botao Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Rehabilitation Training

Background. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is regarded as a potential method for recovery in stroke. The effectiveness of taVNS in acute and subacute stroke should be further discussed as previously, only a few small-scale trials have focused on chronic stroke patients. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect and safety of taVNS on upper limb motor function in subacute ischemic stroke patients. Methods. Twenty-one subacute ischemia stroke patients with single upper limb motor function impairment were enrolled and randomly assigned to conventional rehabilitation training with real or sham taVNS, delivered for 15 consecutive days. Electrodes were fixed to the cymba conchae of the left ear with or without electrical stimulation. Conventional rehabilitation training was performed immediately after the end of real or sham taVNS by the same therapists. Baseline assessments were performed on day 0 of enrollment, and posttreatment evaluations were performed at 15 days, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after the first intervention. The assessment included the upper limb Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA-U), the Wolf motor function test (WMFT), the Functional Independence Measurement (FIM), and Brunnstrom stage. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured before and after each taVNS intervention. At the same time, any adverse effects were observed during the procedure. Outcomes were assessed by a blind evaluator. Results. There were no significant differences in FMA-U, WMFT, FIM, and Brunnstrom scores between the two groups at baseline (P>0.05). At the endpoint, the FMA-U, WMFT, and FIM scores were significantly higher than before treatment (P<0.05), and there was a significantly greater improvement of those measurements in taVNS group compared with sham-taVNS group (P<0.05). Significant improvements in FMA-U score were found between groups at follow-up. Only one case of skin redness occurred during the study. Conclusions. This study revealed that taVNS appeared to be beneficial to the recovery of upper limb motor function in subacute ischemia stroke patients without obvious adverse effects. Trial registration. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1800019635 on 20 November 2018 (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=32961).

scholarly journals Case Report: 1-Year Follow-Up of Vagus Nerve Stimulation in a Dog With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junya Hirashima ◽  
Miyoko Saito ◽  
Hirotaka Igarashi ◽  
Satoshi Takagi ◽  
Daisuke Hasegawa
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Stimulation Parameters ◽  
Term Evaluation ◽  
Drug Resistant Epilepsy

A vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) system was surgically implanted to treat drug-resistant epilepsy in a 5-year-old male Shetland Sheepdog. At regular visits during a 1-year follow-up, treatment efficacy and adverse effects were assessed, and programmable stimulation parameters were adjusted to optimize stimulation intensity while avoiding adverse effects. The frequency of generalized tonic–clonic seizures was reduced by 87% after the initiation of VNS. The owner reported that the dog regained his personality, and the quality of life of both the dog and owner improved. The only adverse effect of VNS was a cough that was controlled by adjusting stimulation parameters. There were no surgical complications or other issues with the VNS device. This is the first long-term evaluation of VNS therapy in a dog, and the results obtained suggest that gradual adjustments of VNS parameters facilitate optimum VNS dosing.

Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for the management of refractory primary chronic headaches: A real-world experience

Cephalalgia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1276-1285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Trimboli ◽  
Adnan Al-Kaisy ◽  
Anna P Andreou ◽  
Madeleine Murphy ◽  
Giorgio Lambru
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Chronic Cluster Headache ◽  
Hemicrania Continua ◽  
Primary Headaches ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Chronic Headaches

Background Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation has initial evidence of efficacy in migraine and cluster headache. However, little is known about its role in the management of refractory chronic headaches. Methods We evaluated the preventive and abortive effects of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in 41 consecutive patients with refractory primary chronic headaches in an open-label prospective clinical audit. Headache diaries were used to collect clinical information. Those who obtained at least 30% reduction in headache days/episodes after three months of treatment were considered responders and were offered treatment continuation. Results Twenty-three patients with chronic migraine, 12 with chronic cluster headache, four with hemicrania continua and two with short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with autonomic symptoms (SUNA) were treated. Two of 23 chronic migraine patients, one of 12 chronic cluster headache patients, and two of four hemicrania continua patients were considered responders. None of the patients with SUNA benefited from the therapy. Two chronic migraine patients were able to reduce the pain severity of moderate migraines with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation. Conclusion Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation may not constitute an effective acute nor preventive treatment in refractory chronic primary headaches. The encouraging effect in hemicrania continua warrants further evaluation in larger studies.

Effect of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Dysphagia After Lateral Medullary Infarction: A Case Report

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1381-1387
Author(s):  
Ying Yuan ◽  
Jie Wang ◽  
Dongyu Wu ◽  
Dahua Zhang ◽  
Weiqun Song
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Tube Feeding ◽  
Nasogastric Feeding ◽  
Lateral Medullary Infarction ◽  
Severe Dysphagia ◽  
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Medullary Infarction

Purpose Severe dysphagia with weak pharyngeal peristalsis after dorsal lateral medullary infarction (LMI) requires long-term tube feeding. However, no study is currently available on therapeutic effectiveness in severe dysphagia caused by nuclear damage of vagus nerve after dorsal LMI. The purpose of the present investigation was to explore the potential of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) to improve severe dysphagia with weak pharyngeal peristalsis after dorsal LMI. Method We assessed the efficacy of 6-week tVNS in a 28-year-old woman presented with persisting severe dysphagia after dorsal LMI who had been on nasogastric feeding for 6 months. tVNS was applied for 20 min twice a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. The outcome measures included saliva spitted, Swallow Function Scoring System, Functional Oral Intake Scale, Clinical Assessment of Dysphagia With Wallenberg Syndrome, Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale, and upper esophagus X-ray examination. Results After tVNS, the patient was advanced to a full oral diet without head rotation or spitting. No saliva residue was found in the valleculae and pyriform sinuses. Contrast medium freely passed through the upper esophageal sphincter. Conclusion Our findings suggest that tVNS might provide a useful means for recovery of severe dysphagia with weak pharyngeal peristalsis after dorsal LMI. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9755438

Vagus nerve stimulation in rheumatoid arthritis – Authors' reply

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e14-e15
Author(s):  
Mark C Genovese ◽  
Yaakov A Levine ◽  
David Chernoff
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
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