Evidence map · VNS · refractory epilepsy
VNS for refractory epilepsy: what the research shows
Vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy. 2,111 papers from 1990 to 2026, including 52 meta-analyses, 72 systematic reviews and 65 randomised controlled trials. Each study below links to its source.
2,111Papers in the corpus
52Meta-analyses
65Randomised controlled trials
520Open-access papers
Study design
Jev labels419 papers have no confident study-design label yet. Labels are AI-classified by Jev: advisory, not clinician-reviewed.
Papers over time
by publication year* 2025–26 is still in progress, so its count is incomplete.
Most-cited trials and reviews
by citations- 1
Vagus nerve stimulation therapy for partial-onset seizures: a randomized active-control trial.
- 2
Vagus nerve stimulation for treatment of partial seizures: 1. A controlled study of effect on seizures. First International Vagus Nerve Stimulation Study Group.
- 3
A randomized controlled trial of chronic vagus nerve stimulation for treatment of medically intractable seizures. The Vagus Nerve Stimulation Study Group.
- 4
Vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy: a meta-analysis of efficacy and predictors of response.
- 5
Vagus nerve stimulation is associated with mood improvements in epilepsy patients.
- 6
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) for Treatment of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial (cMPsE02).
- 7
Vagus nerve stimulation for treatment of partial seizures: 2. Safety, side effects, and tolerability. First International Vagus Nerve Stimulation Study Group.
- 8
The long-term effect of vagus nerve stimulation on quality of life in patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy: the PuLsE (Open Prospective Randomized Long-term Effectiveness) trial.
Recent trials and reviews
last 3 years- 1
Seizure outcomes in persons with autism spectrum disorder undergoing epilepsy surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 2
Right vagal nerve stimulation for epilepsy - case series and systematic review of the literature.
- 3
Efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) in treating drug-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 4
Significant reduction of seizure frequency in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy by vagus nerve stimulation: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 5
Can transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation be considered a viable adjuntive therapy in drug-resistant epilepsy? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Decision support only. This page summarises published literature; it is not medical advice or a recommendation for any patient. Study designs and topic labels are AI-classified by Jev: advisory, not clinician-reviewed. Abstracts are not reproduced here: follow the links to read each source. Data snapshot 2026-09-25.