Neurostimulation in Childhood Epilepsy
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Date
2025-05
Authors
Ghosh, Soumya
Nagarajan, Lakshmi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Indian Academy of Pediatrics
Abstract
Epilepsy is a common and debilita?ng neurological disorder in children, and approximately a third of them have ongoing seizures despite adequate trial of an?seizure medica?ons. Neuros?mula?on approaches may be an op?on for those with drug resistant epilepsy. Several invasive and non-invasive devices have been trialled and found to be effec?ve in reducing seizure burden in drug resistant epilepsy. These techniques appear to be safe and well tolerated. We review the available evidence for the use of these devices, including vagus nerve s?mula?on, deep brain s?mula?on, responsive neuros?mula?on, chronic subthreshold cor?cal s?mula?on, transcranial magne?c s?mula?on and transcranial direct current s?mula?on. The results of trials are promising but there are fewer studies in children. Apart from vagus nerve s?mula?on, none of the other neuros?mula?on techniques are currently approved for use in children and their use is off -label or in clinical trials. Further well-designed trials are needed, especially in children, to iden?fy the most effec?ve neuros?mula?on op?ons and op?mal parameters for improvement of seizure burden and quality of life. Neuros?mula?on techniques are also being trialled for treatment of refractory status epilep?cus, but lack of robust evidence (mainly case studies or case series reports) makes it difficult to predict therapeu?c benefit at present.
Description
Keywords
Deep brain stimulation, Drug resistant epilepsy, Non-invasive brain stimulation, Responsive neurostimulation, Vagus nerve stimulation
Citation
Ghosh Soumya, Nagarajan Lakshmi. Neurostimulation in Childhood Epilepsy. Indian Pediatrics. 2025 May; 62(5): 378-385