Vagus nerve stimulation: where are we?

Now nearly 5 years post-approval, vagus nerve stimulation has emerged as a major non-pharmacological treatment for epilepsy. The place of vagus nerve stimulation among antiepileptic drugs and other surgical therapies is still evolving. This review evaluates the role of vagus nerve stimulation in light of recently published research of its mechanism(s) of action, long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability, and application to other disorders besides epilepsy.