Expert opinion on use of vagus nerve stimulation therapy in the management of pediatric epilepsy: A Delphi consensus study.

Purpose: To provide consensus-based recommendations for use of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy in the management of pediatric epilepsy.

Methods: Delphi methodology with two rounds of online survey was used to build consensus. A steering committee developed 43 statements related to pediatric epilepsy and the use of VNS therapy, which were evaluated by a panel of 12 neurologists/neurosurgeons with expertise in pediatric epilepsy, who graded their agreement with each statement on a scale of 1 ("I do not agree at all") to 5 ("I strongly agree").

Clinical value of the first dedicated, commercially available automatic injector for ictal brain SPECT in presurgical evaluation of pediatric epilepsy: comparison with manual injection.

Unlabelled: The most challenging technical problem in ictal brain SPECT for localization of an epileptogenic focus is obtaining a timely injection of a radiopharmaceutical. In our institution, the first dedicated commercially available, remotely controlled automatic injector has been used in the pediatric epilepsy unit in conjunction with 24-h video and electroencephalogram monitoring. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the improved success rate of ictal injection by use of the automatic injector in the pediatric population.