Table 2.
Summary of outcomes in published NORSE cases treated with VNS.
| References | Outcome | Adverse events due to VNS | Last time point of review | ongoing numbers of ASM | Chronic epilepsy | cognitive outcome | level of function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonardi et al. (6) | Alive | Coughing and tachycardia, current reduced to 1.75 mA | 12 months | Multiple | 8 months seizure free | Normal and fluent speech, resumed home schooling | Walking with assistance |
| Luo et al. (19) | Alive | – | 166 days | 4 (TPM, VPA, LEV, PER) | Seizure free | Verbal and social behind normal limits | Walk without assistance |
| Espino et al. (20) | Alive | – | 730 days | – | Daily FIAS | Moderate global cognitive and mild emotional involvement, affecting her social life | —- |
| Espino et al. (20) | Alive | – | 2 years after implantation or 11 years after NORSE | – | 12 seizures/d | Cognitively impaired | On disability support |
| Kurukumbi et al. (21) | Death due to comorbidities d17 | – | – | ||||
| Yamazoe et al. (22) | Alive | – | 1 year | – | Seizure free | Severely impaired | Wheelchair assistance |
| Alsaadi et al. (23) | Alive | – | 8 months | 0 | – | Mild-moderate cognitive impairment | – |
| Hoang et al. (16) | Alive | – | 1 ms after PRP | 5 | – | – | Not documented, discharge to IP Rehab |
| Howell et al. (24) | Died d29 in multiorgan failure, no inflammation on postmortem | – | – | ||||
| Howell et al. (24) | Alive | – | 23 years | 2–4 | – | Mild-mod ID language and memory deficits normal behavior | |
| Howell et al. (24) | Alive | – | 26y | 2–4 | – | Mod ID language and verbal memory deficits Mild behavior disorder | |
| Lin and Ko (17) | Alive | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lin and Ko (17) | Alive | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Shatzmiller et al. (18) | Alive | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Skaff and Labiner (25) | Alive | – | – | – | – | – | – |
FIAS, focal impaired awareness seizures; LEV, levetiracetam; PER, perampanel; TPM, topiramate; VNS, vagal nerve stimulation; VPA, valproate.