Purpose:
To identify risk factors for VNS-associated arrhythmia.
Methods:
A literature review identified 14 papers with 21 patients. We compared patients with VNS associated arrhythmia (arrhythmia group, n = 22) and patients without VNS associated arrhythmia (control group of our VNS implanted patients, n = 29).
Results:
New onset syncopal events following VNS placement were seen in the arrhythmia group (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Even though arrhythmia could be symptomatic, most cases associated with syncope were treated as new-onset epileptic seizures with adjustment of anti-seizure drugs. To detect cardiac asystole during VNS treatment, clinicians should be alert to the possibility of new onset syncopal events that differ from habitual seizures.