Ventricular asystole during vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy in humans

Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, a recently available option for patients with refractory epilepsy, has demonstrated safety and efficacy. We report four patients with refractory epilepsy who experienced ventricular asystole intraoperatively during initial testing for implantation of the vagus nerve stimulator. Acute intraoperative vagus nerve stimulation may create ventricular asystole in humans. Extracorporeal cervical vagus nerve stimulation testing with continuous EKG monitoring intraoperatively before generator implantation is warranted.