Evanston resident Christa Vragel was 27 years old when she had a stroke that left her unable to use her right arm. Now 72, Vragel is celebrating being able to use her right arm again thanks to a nerve stimulator called Vivistim.
“Vagus nerve stimulators have been around for a while,” said Zachary Bulwa, MD, a neurologist with Endeavor Health. “They are now being repurposed to help ischemic stroke patients regain movement in their arms.”
Vragel is the first patient at Endeavor Health to get the Vivistim implant.
Ricky Wong, MD, a neurosurgeon with Endeavor Health, placed a small box in Vragel’s chest and connected it to the vagus nerve in her neck. She uses a magnet to activate the nerve stimulator throughout the day, stimulating movement in her arm.
“We are turning around the consequences of stroke,” explained William Ares, MD, neurosurgeon and Director of the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Program at Endeavor Health. “We're finding ways to reverse deficits and improve patients’ long-term outcomes.”
“It's the beginning of a revolution in recovery for patients who had a stroke at least six months ago,” said Dr. Bulwa. “It's remarkable technology.”
But simply placing Vivistim in a patient can’t bring back movement — it all depends on the rehabilitation therapy the patient does after the surgery. “This device helps, but putting it in doesn't make you better,” said Dr. Bulwa. “How you pair it with the rehab makes it work.”
After surgery, Vragel, began working with Endeavor Health occupational therapist Violet Potocki, OT, in sessions she described as “intense.”
The occupational therapy paid off, as she can now do tasks like cooking, laundry and getting dressed — things she struggled to do for 45 years. “I feel more like a whole person,” said Vragel. “It’s an incredible feeling.”
“She's highly motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated,” said Dr. Bulwa. “That is what made her such a great candidate.”
According to Dr. Ares, neurosurgeons at Endeavor Health are focused on expanding the program so that more qualified patients can receive Vivistim.
“We are constantly on the path to innovation, and we are trying our best to offer our patients the most cutting-edge care we can,” said Dr. Ares. “We're not giving up on them.”
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