To date, no detailed study has explored the potential
for stimulation of cranial nerves other than the
vagus nerve for medically intractable seizures.
Medically intractable epilepsy causes significant
morbidity and mortality. While several medical
therapies for this disease have been developed, each
can be associated with significant adverse effects.
In the United States approximately 30, 000 new cases
of medically intractable epilepsy are diagnosed each
year, and only 15% of these patients can be treated
by neurosurgical procedures. Many patients have had
success with stimulation of the vagus nerve. However,
some patients do not respond to vagus nerve
stimulation. The hypothesis tested in the following
four studies is that glossopharyngeal nerve
stimulation can provide adequate seizure control with
fewer adverse results. The results of this study may
elucidate both the effectiveness and underlying
mechanisms by which glossopharyngeal nerve
stimulation leads to blunting of seizure activity.
Thus, this study lays the groundwork for development
of a potentially effective method to treat many
patients who currently lack effective antiseizure
therapy.