Nebraska Medicine first in the state to offer breakthrough therapy for stroke

 

Wow, admitting incompetence in how long it took to bring vagus nerve stimulation into their stroke practice. And you haven't fired the board of directors for incompetence yet?

vagus nerve (67 posts to July 2012)

vagus nerve stimulation (1 post to February 2023)

paired vagus nerve stimulation (2 posts to April 2022)

Why surgery except for revenue?

10 Easy Ways to Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve to Reduce Stress from Debbie Hampton

The latest here:

Nebraska Medicine first in the state to offer breakthrough therapy for stroke

Mark Wilson knows firsthand how difficult stroke recovery can be.

Four years ago, he woke up noticing something wasn’t right with his left side. A stroke significantly impacted his arm, hand, leg and foot. Years of rehab work with Nebraska Medicine occupational therapist Stacy Reichmuth followed.

Despite his hard work, like many stroke survivors, Wilson reached a point where progress slowed. Now, as the first patient in Nebraska to receive the Vivistim implant, he’s hoping to push past that plateau.

“I don’t think I would like to be sitting here a year or two from now and not doing it,” Wilson says.

One of his goals is simple but meaningful: return to the golf course.

“I golfed four or five times a week,” he says. “That’s the thing I miss tremendously.” 

Pushing past the plateau

For years, stroke care has focused on one critical window: the moments immediately after a stroke occurs, when rapid treatment can minimize brain damage. But for many patients, recovery has long plateaued once that window closes.

Now, Nebraska Medicine is offering new hope. “This is just the most exciting thing that’s probably happened to stroke rehab in years," says Reichmuth.

As the first health system in Nebraska to provide Vivistim, doctors and therapists are helping stroke survivors regain function sometimes years after their stroke by tapping into the brain’s ability to rewire itself.

“This really is a big deal,” says neurosurgeon Josue Avecillas-Chasin, MD. “Once a stroke is established and a patient is left with deficits, historically, we haven’t had much to offer beyond rehabilitation. This changes that.”

How Vivistim works

Vivistim is an implanted device that functions in tandem with the work being done by occupational therapists such as Reichmuth. It delivers mild stimulation to the vagus nerve, which is a key communication pathway to the brain. This happens when patients perform specific rehabilitation exercises.

The goal: enhance neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new connections.

“The vagus nerve is like a highway to the brain,” Dr. Avecillas-Chasin says. “About 80% of its fibers go directly there, so it’s a very efficient route to activate the brain during therapy.”

During therapy sessions, clinicians activate the device at key moments as patients perform targeted movements. Over time, this pairing helps reinforce new neural pathways, improving movement and function.

Reichmuth works with Mark during his first session with the device

Reichmuth describes the effect as “fertilizer for the brain,” helping accelerate recovery when paired with purposeful movement.

The therapy is designed for adults with ischemic stroke (a clot-related stroke), which is the most common type. These patients continue to experience upper limb weakness or loss of function.

One of the most promising aspects: patients don’t need to be newly diagnosed.

“There’s no strict limit on how long ago the stroke occurred,” Dr. Avecillas-Chasin said. “Even patients years out from their stroke may still benefit.”

The device is about the size of a pacemaker and is implanted in the chest, with a lead connected to the vagus nerve in the neck.

Reichmuth activates this clicker when Wilson makes meaningful movements

 

The procedure typically takes three to four hours, followed by a short recovery period before therapy begins.

Patients like Mark then complete a structured rehabilitation program, often including multiple sessions per week. The device is activated during exercises, and they can also continue therapy at home using the device.

“The more patients engage in therapy, the more benefit we expect to see,” Dr. Avecillas-Chasin says.

While the technology is still relatively new, early data is encouraging.

Clinical trials suggest patients using the device alongside therapy can see improvements two to three times greater than just therapy alone. And benefits may extend beyond just arm function.

“These improvements aren’t always isolated,” Reichmuth says. “They can affect balance, walking, even mood.”

As awareness grows, Nebraska Medicine expects demand to increase rapidly. In fact, multiple additional patients have already been referred for the therapy since the first procedure.

Reichmuth worked with Mark on his golfing skills during the first session

 

For patients like Wilson, that momentum represents something powerful: renewed possibility. He says his two daughters, one who is an occupational therapist herself, are holding him accountable.

“She asked me all sorts of questions, and she thinks it’s awesome,” Wilson says of his daughter. “Both of them are really strict, and they’ll become, I think, a little bit more watchful over me to make sure I’m doing things right.”

Watch the WOWT story featuring Mark and occupational therapist Stacy Reichmuth: 
First Nebraska Patient Receives New Implant For Stroke Recovery

Who qualifies for the device?

• Are at least six months post-stroke
• Are adults (generally 22 or older)
• Have had an ischemic (clot-related) stroke
• Continue to have upper extremity impairment

Patients who would like a consultation can call 402.552.2464.