Medical News Summary: Implanted device alleviates previously untreatable seizure problems

About: Implanted device alleviates previously untreatable seizure problems
Date: 27 January 2005
Source: The Sun Herald
Author: Jean Prescott
Medical News Summary (summary of medical news story as reported by The Sun Herald): A man became desperate after years of suffering from seizures. Medication didn’t work and surgery wasn’t an option as his seizures originated from several parts of the brain. He initially had complex partial seizures (start in the speech and comprehension area of brain and only last for seconds) which was misdiagnosed for years. It was not until he started to have grand mal seizures that his condition was diagnosed. He decided to try vagus nerve stimulation (VNS therapy) which uses specific electrical impulses to interrupt the electrical misfires in the brain that cause seizures. The treatment means he has to have a device implanted under the skin of his chest permanently and adjustments need to be made roughly every two months. He claims that he now suffers from fewer seizures and has increased energy as the little seizures are no longer draining him so much. He has also noticed that his depression has also abated. The treatment is being investigated for possible use as a therapy for obesity and depression.
URL: http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/living/10744088.htm
Related Disease Topics: Seizure, Complex partial seizure, Grand mal seizures, Depression, Obesity

---

Related Medical News Channels: This medical news summary article refers to the following medical channel categories:

• Surgery
• Surgery and seizure
• Surgery and complex partial seizure
• Surgery and grand mal seizure
• Surgery and depression
• Surgery and vagus nerve stimulation
• Diagnosis and seizure
• Diagnosis and complex partial seizure
• Diagnosis and grand mal seizures
• Diagnosis and depression
• Diagnosis and obesity
• misdiagnosis and seizure
• Misdiagnosis and complex partial seizure
• misdiagnosis and grand mal seizures
• misdiagnosis and depression
• misdiagnosis and obesity
• Undiagnosed and seizure
• Undiagnosed and complex partial seizure
• Undiagnosed and grand mal seizure
• Undiagnosed and depression
• Undiagnosed and obesity
• cause of depression
• Medication
• Medication
• medication and seizure
• Medication and complex partial seizure
• Medication and grand mal seizure

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Risk Factor Center
• Medical Statistics Center
• Medical Treatment Center
• Prevention Center
• Medical Tests Center

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Online Diagnosis
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles