Effects of tDCS and VNS on Postoperative Analgesia

Launched by COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY · Aug 12, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at two treatments, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and Afferent Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), to see if they can help reduce pain after surgery. The study will involve adults who are having elective surgeries that require general anesthesia. Researchers will measure how much pain patients feel, along with other important health signs, and track how much pain medicine they need in the first 24 hours after surgery.

To participate, you need to be at least 18 years old and able to give consent. However, some people won’t be eligible, such as those with certain heart conditions, pregnant individuals, or those with a history of seizures. If you join the study, you will be placed in one of four groups, where you may receive either the active treatment, a fake version of the treatment, or both. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, so you'll want to keep an eye out for when it begins if you're interested.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adults aged 18 years or above with the capacity to provide informed consent who are undergoing an elective surgery requiring general anesthesia
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • cardiac bradyarrhythmia: taking beta-blockers;
• • patients with metal implants around the chest, neck, or head (e.g. implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, deep brain stimulation devices);
• • pregnancy
• • history of epilepsy or seizures.
• • patients undergoing surgical procedures involving the head, neck or spine, or those requiring the use of cardiopulmonary bypass