Obstructive sleep apnea and respiratory complications associated with vagus nerve stimulators

Fuzhan Parhizgar, Kenneth Nugent, Rishi Raj*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

92 Scopus citations

Abstract

Intermittent vagus nerve stimulation can reduce the frequency of seizures in patients with refractory epilepsy. Stimulation of vagus nerve afferent fi bers can also cause vocal cord dysfunction, laryngeal spasm, cough, dyspnea, nausea, and vomiting. Vagus nerve stimulation causes an increase in respiratory rate, decrease in respiratory amplitude, decrease in tidal volume, and decrease in oxygen saturation during periods of device activation. It usually does not cause an arousal, or a change in heart rate or blood pressure. Most patients have an increase in their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Patients with VNS can have central apneas, obstructive hypopneas, and obstructive apneas. These respiratory events can be reduced with changes in the vagus nerve stimulator operational parameters or with the use of CPAP. In summary, there are complex relationships between epilepsy and obstructive sleep apneas. In particular, patients with refractory epilepsy need assessment for undiagnosed and untreated obstructive sleep apnea before implantation of vagus nerve stimulator devices. Patients with vagus nerve stimulators often have an increase in apneic events after implantation, and these patients need screening for sleep apnea both before and after implantation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)401-407
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
Volume7
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 2011

Keywords

  • Dysphonia
  • Seizure disorder
  • Sleep apnea
  • Vagus nerve stimulator

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Neurology
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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