Background

Driving is consistently reported as an important goal for people with epilepsy. We sought to determine the proportion of people with drug-resistant epilepsy who became medically fit to drive after treatment with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

Research

A retrospective observational study of patients treated with VNS therapy. Patients were categorized as either VNS responders with or without additional intervention, and their eligibility to drive Group 1 vehicles was assessed according to Irish Medical Fitness to Drive regulations.

Results

Among 87 patients treated with VNS for ≥12 months, 15 became medically eligible to drive: five were current drivers, three were learner drivers, and seven were eligible to drive based on their seizure control but were not driving for various reasons.  These findings highlight the potential role of neuromodulation in improving seizure control and promoting patient autonomy and independence.