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Epileptic children in the UAE may now be able to enjoy an increased quality of life free from seizures thanks to an advanced new pediatric treatment option, available at only a select number of hospitals in the country, including Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
On Sunday February 20th, four children suffering from severe epilepsy were admitted to Mafraq Hospital where they were the first children in the country to be successfully implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) – a pocket-sized electronic device used to control serious and uncontrollable seizures.
The vagus, which is associated with epileptic events, originates in the brain and traverses the neck and chest to the abdomen. When a VNS device is implanted in the chest, it sends electric stimulation under the skin to the left vagus nerve, preventing seizures from occurring. Initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997 as an adjunctive therapy for epilepsy, it has since been credited to improving the quality of life of countless patients. Mafraq Hospital is currently only one of two hospitals in the UAE to offer VNS therapy. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy. Affecting the electrical activity in the brain, epilepsy causes sudden and incontrollable impulses to the brain leading to seizures.
On hand for the surgeries was an expert team of doctors specially trained in pediatrics and VNS therapy. The team was led by Dr. Khaled Zamel, Chief of Pediatric Neurology at Mafraq Hospital and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics & Neurology at the Ohio State University. “I am thrilled to be a part of these groundbreaking surgeries, among the first of their kind in the UAE,” Zamel explained.
According to Dr. Zamel, more than 30 percent of patients continue to suffer from seizures despite ongoing trials with drug therapy. In these circumstances, VNS is introduced as a supplement to traditional pharmacological treatments. This is particularly good news for patients; many suffer from depression, exhaustion and memory loss as a result of antiepileptic drugs. With this innovative surgical technique, VNS does not cause the kinds of side effects you would expect from anti-seizure medications. With VNS therapy you get the benefit of receiving therapy all day, every day, year after year.
Dr. Mohammad Yaman, Chief Medical Officer at Mafraq Hospital, adds, “Our children should be outside running and playing, not living in the constant fear that they might have another seizure. We are confident that VNS therapy is the answer and we look forward to seeing more widespread results in the near future.”
Equipped with a lithium battery lasting between 1 and 16 years, patients need only schedule a short and minimally invasive outpatient procedure to maintain the effectiveness of the device. “The operation is a small price to pay for a dramatic increase in the quality of life for our young people,” says Dr Yaman.
The therapy has revealed additional benefits for patients who experience pre-seizure symptoms; a unique VNS magnet can be used to transmit an extra dose of stimulation to the brain which will control or prevent a seizure before it begins.
Mafraq Hospital is owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA), which is responsible for all the curative activities of public hospitals and clinics in Abu Dhabi. The hospital is managed by Bumrungrad International, one of the most renowned hospital management companies in Asia, recognised internationally for its commitment to patient care and customer service.
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