Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Preclinical studies have shown that surgically implanted vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) promotes recovery of consciousness and cognitive function following experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study is to report the feasibility and safety of a noninvasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in patients with persistent impairment of consciousness following severe TBI. ⋯ We demonstrated that tVNS is a feasible and safe VNS strategy for patients following severe TBI. Controlled studies are needed to clarify whether tVNS has a potential to promote recovery of consciousness following severe TBI.
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Peripheral neuralgia is a common cause of chronic pain. Treatment might be challenging, and the condition can be resistant to commonly used treatment modalities for chronic pain. We present five cases of peripheral neuralgia who were successfully treated using wireless peripheral nerve stimulation. ⋯ We present five patients with peripheral neuralgias resistant to other treatment modalities who received excellent pain relief following implantation of a peripheral nerve stimulator.
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Review Meta Analysis
Cervical Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Migraine and Cluster Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) has been proposed as a new neuromodulation therapy to treat primary headache disorders. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness and safety of peripheral nerve stimulation of the cervical branch of the vagal nerve for primary headache disorders. ⋯ PROSPERO registration number CRD42019126009.
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Review Case Reports
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Refractory Trigeminal Pain: Recent Single-Institution Case Series With Long-Term Follow-Up and Review of the Literature.
Peripheral neurostimulation (PNS) for medically refractory trigeminal pain is an emerging alternative to traditional surgical approaches, with safety and efficacy demonstrated in several retrospective series and a prospective trial currently in progress. Many existing studies suffer from relatively small numbers and short or inconsistent follow-up, making balanced treatment assessment difficult. ⋯ We present a single-institution series of PNS for complex craniofacial pain involving the trigeminal nerve. The procedure is safe, effective and durable over at least one year in the large majority of a well-selected patient population.
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Review Case Reports
Use of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation to treat respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19: A theoretical hypothesis and early clinical experience.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a pandemic with no specific therapeutic agents and substantial mortality, and finding new treatments is critical. Most cases are mild, but a significant minority of patients develop moderate to severe respiratory symptoms, with the most severe cases requiring intensive care and/or ventilator support. This respiratory compromise appears to be due to a hyperimmune reaction, often called a cytokine storm. Vagus nerve stimulation has been demonstrated to block production of cytokines in sepsis and other medical conditions. We hypothesize that non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) might provide clinical benefits in patients with respiratory symptoms similar to those associated with COVID-19. ⋯ Preliminary observations and a strong scientific foundation suggest that nVNS might provide clinical benefits in patients with COVID-19 via multiple mechanisms.