scholarly journals Use of Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Vagal Maneuvers as Adjuvant Therapy for COVID-19 Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 10-15
Author(s):  
Susana Mabel Sendin ◽  
Juan Sebastian Yakisich
Keyword(s):  
Adjuvant Therapy ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Cytokine Storm ◽  
Strong Indication ◽  
Diving Response ◽  
Intrinsic Resistance ◽  
Pilot Studies

At present there is no effective specific antiviral drug to treat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has already infected millions of individual and caused hundreds of thousand deaths worldwide. There is strong indication that a cytokine storm is responsible for the severity of COVID-19 patients. Pilot studies using IL-6 receptor inhibitors such as Tolicizumab have shown promising results. However, since the cytokine storm is a complex systemic inflammatory response involving multiple cytokines it can be hypothesized that a “paninhibition” of cytokines and/or cytokine receptors will be more effective. However, at the same time this strategy may cause more adverse effects. In this article, we propose the application of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (NVS) and/or some forms of vagal maneuvers as adjuvant therapies to prevent and/or mitigate the cytokine response in COVID-19 patients. This proposal is based on the ability of NVS and to decrease the production of IL-6 and other cytokines. The potential application of the diving response (one form of vagal maneuver), that has been shown to confer intrinsic resistance to inflammation in the blood of diving mammals, is also discussed as adjuvant therapy for COVID-19 patients. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-03-SI-2 Full Text: PDF

Beyond the Treatment of Epilepsy: New Applications of Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Psychiatry

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 515-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Kosel ◽  
Thomas E. Schlaepfer
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Term Treatment ◽  
Clinical Usefulness ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Long Term Treatment

ABSTRACTVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in humans generally refers to stimulation of the left vagus nerve at the cervical level. VNS is an established treatment largely devoid of severe side effects for medically refractory partial-onset seizures and has been used in more than 16,000 patients. Over the past 5 years, applications in other neuropsychiatric disorders have been investigated, with a special emphasis on depression. Recent data from an open-label, multi-center pilot study involving 60 patients suggest a potential clinical usefulness in the acute and maintenance treatment of drug-resistant depressive disorder. The perspective of VNS as a long-term treatment with the advantage of assured compliance makes it an interesting technique to potentially treat drug-resistant depression. However, definite therapeutic effects of clinical significance remain to be confirmed in large placebo-controlled trials. Results of clinical pilot studies involving patients suffering from obesity and Alzheimer's disease indicate that VNS might induce weight loss and improve cognition. Besides its clinical usefulness, VNS can be used as a research tool, allowing neuro-physiologic investigations of the parasympathetic system and its interactions with other parts of the central nervous system.

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

Cognition-enhancing effect of vagus nerve stimulation on refractory epilepsy secondary to lissencephaly: A case report.

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-85
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Marmo da Costa e Souza ◽  
Felipe Ricardo Pereira Vasconcelos De Arruda ◽  
Jose Anderson Galdino Santos ◽  
Jamerson De Carvalho Andrade ◽  
Suellen Mary Marinho Dos Santos Andrade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Refractory Epilepsy ◽  
Enhancing Effect

Implanted vagus nerve stimulation in 126 patients: surgical technique and complications

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (7) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Vocal Cord ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Pulse Generator ◽  
Operative Procedure ◽  
Intractable Epilepsy ◽  
Vagal Nerve ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Nerve Stimulator

Introduction: Vagus nerve stimulation is a palliative treatment for patients with refractory epilepsy to reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures. A bipolar helical electrode is placed around the left vagus nerve at the cervical level and is connected to the pulse generator placed in a subcutaneous pocket, most commonly in the subclavian region. Methods: Between March 1998 and October 2019, we performed 196 procedures related to the vagal nerve stimulation at the Neurosurgery Department in Motol University Hospital. Of these, 126 patients were vagal nerve stimulator implantation surgeries for intractable epilepsy. The cases included 69 female and 57 male patients with mean age at the time of the implantation surgery 22±12.4 years (range 2.1−58.4 years). Results: Nine patients (7.1%) were afflicted by complications related to implantation. Surgical complications included postoperative infection in 1.6%, VNS-associated arrhythmias in 1.6%, jugular vein bleeding in 0.8% and vocal cord paresis in 2.4%. One patient with vocal cord palsy also suffered from severe dysphagia. One patient (0.8%) did not tolerate extra stimulation with magnet due to a prolonged spasm in his throat. The extra added benefit of vagus stimulation in one patient was a significant reduction of previously regular severe headaches. Conclusion: Vagus nerve stimulation is an appropriate treatment for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who are not candidates for focal resective surgery. Implantation of the vagus nerve stimulator is a relatively safe operative procedure.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Induced Synchrony Modulation of Local Field Potential in the Rat Cerebral Cortex

2013 ◽  
Vol 133 (8) ◽  
pp. 1493-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryuji Kano ◽  
Kenichi Usami ◽  
Takahiro Noda ◽  
Tomoyo I. Shiramatsu ◽  
Ryohei Kanzaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Local Field ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Local Field Potential ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Field Potential ◽  
Rat Cerebral Cortex
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