AAN Vagus Nerve Stimulation For The Treatment Of Epilepsy Guideline Summary - Guideline Central

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the American Academy of Neurology.

Document Overview

Document Title: Vagus Nerve Stimulation For The Treatment Of Epilepsy

Authoring Society: American Academy of Neurology

Document Publication Date: Aug 28, 2013

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: May 6, 2026

Document Type: Guideline

Country of Publication: United States

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: n.neurology.org/content/81/16/1453.full

Source Citation: Evidence-based guideline update: Vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of epilepsy Report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology George L. Morris, David Gloss, Jeffrey Buchhalter, Kenneth J. Mack, Katherine Nickels, Cynthia Harden Neurology Oct 2013, 81 (16) 1453-1459; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182a393d1

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: To evaluate the evidence since the 1999 assessment regarding efficacy and safety of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for epilepsy, currently approved as adjunctive therapy for partial-onset seizures in patients >12 years.

Scope: Assessment and Screening, Management, Treatment

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D004827 - Epilepsy

D004827 - Epilepsy

Keywords: epilepsy, vagus nerve stimulation

Inclusion Criteria: Female, Male, Adult

Health Care Settings: Ambulatory, Hospital, Outpatient

Intended Users: Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Occupational Therapist, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Supplemental Methodology Resources: Methodology Supplement Evidence Tables

Number of Source Documents: 40

Literature Search End Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Includes peer/external review process?: Yes

Includes public comment process?: No

Methodologist involvement?: Yes

Patient involvement?: No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?: Yes

Includes systematic review?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?: Yes

Discloses funding source?: Yes

Discloses conflicts of interest?: Yes

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?: No