Biomedical subjects

James Baumgartner

Publications and source records attributed to James Baumgartner.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Right-sided vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for refractory epilepsy in humans.

PURPOSE: We present three children who underwent right-sided vagus nerve stimulation (R-VNS). This treatment option for people with refractory epilepsy has not been described in children. METHODS: We reviewed our database of >350 patients implanted with vagus nerve stimulators and now describe our experience in three patients with R-VNS for the treatment of intractable seizures. All three patients improved dramatically with left-sided vagus nerve stimulation (L-VNS), but the devices had to be removed because of infection. The patients were thought to be at high risk for nerve injury if they were reapproached for L-VNSs; therefore R-VNSs were implanted. RESULTS: All three patients with an R-VNS had a reduction in seizures. Our first patient has had an R-VNS for 5 years; he has been seizure free for >2 years on R-VNS monotherapy. The second patient had an R-VNS for 8 months. His seizure control improved slightly, but not as dramatically as with L-VNS. The third child has had an R-VNS for >7 months and has cessation of his most disabling seizure type (generalized tonic-clonic seizures). None of the patients had cardiac side effects from therapeutic R-VNS. However, two of the three patients had respiratory events with R-VNS. CONCLUSIONS: VNS is known to be an effective treatment in pharmacoresistant epilepsy. R-VNS should be considered if a patient has significant benefit from L-VNS but is unable to continue with L-VNS. R-VNS appears also to have antiepilepsy effects. Additionally, our case report suggests that in some patients, a differential response is found regarding seizure control with R-VNS or L-VNS, raising the question whether L-VNS failures should pursue a trial of R-VNS. Patients should be cautioned and monitored for reactive airway disease if they undergo R-VNS. More research is needed to compare the effects of right- and left-sided VNS on cardiac and pulmonary function in humans and to determine which has the best antiseizure effect.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMed2004

Vagus nerve stimulation therapy.

Until recently, antiepileptic drugs and traditional epilepsy surgery were the two primary treatment options available to patients with epilepsy. Drug therapy, however, does not always control seizures and can be associated with negative side effects. Additionally, only a minority of patients are candidates for epilepsy surgery. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy, approved by the US FDA in 1997, is now a treatment option that is effective in reducing seizure frequency and severity as well as improving patient quality of life without the pharmacological side effects associated with traditional antiepileptic drugs. Provided here is an overview of VNS therapy and the VNS therapy system, including the history of vagal nerve stimulation, patient selection guidelines and new indications currently under investigation for this novel therapy.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMed2002

Deformational posterior plagiocephaly: diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of helmet therapy (DOC band) in the correction of patients with moderate to severe posterior deformational plagiocephaly. DESIGN: In this prospective study, the infants were evaluated using 18 anthropometric measurements. PATIENTS: The charts of 248 patients seen between August 1, 1995, and July 31, 1999, were reviewed, and 125 met the criteria for inclusion in the study. All the patients had posterior deformational plagiocephaly with no other craniofacial deformities or medical conditions. Treatment was instituted prior to 1 year of age, and all patients were compliant with DOC band usage and had complete anthropometric measurements. RESULTS: The study recorded a 41.56% (p < .001) reduction in cranial vault asymmetry and a 40.23% (p <.001) reduction in cranial base asymmetry. Orbitotragial asymmetry was improved 18.72% (p = .0738). The age at which treatment was begun was not a significant factor in predicting treatment outcomes.

Age Factors↗