Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Quality of Recovery After Major Noncardiac Surgery

Launched by PEKING UNIVERSITY FIRST HOSPITAL · May 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring a new treatment called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) to see if it can help patients recover better after major noncardiac surgeries, which are surgeries not related to the heart. Research has shown that taVNS might help with pain, sleep, and recovery from surgery. The goal of this study is to find out if using taVNS during and after surgery can improve how well patients feel and recover.

To participate in this trial, you need to be between 18 and 84 years old and scheduled for a noncardiac surgery expected to last at least two hours. However, certain conditions would exclude you from joining, such as having skin issues on the ear, specific serious medical conditions, or if you are expected to need a breathing machine for more than a day after surgery. If you do join, you can expect to receive the taVNS treatment around the time of your surgery, and researchers will monitor your recovery process closely. This study is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to provide valuable insights into improving recovery for patients after surgery.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Aged ≥18 years but \<85 years.
• • 2. Scheduled for elective or limited-time noncardiac surgery with expected duration ≥2 hours.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Lesions or infections of the auricle skin.
• • 2. Recent or long-term use of cholinergic or anticholinergic medications.
• • 3. Neurosurgery.
• • 4. Expected mechanical ventilation with intubation for ≥1 day after surgery.
• • 5. Diagnosed schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, or myasthenia gravis before surgery.
• • 6. Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \<30%, or those with sick sinus syndrome, sinus bradycardia (heart rate \<50 beats per minute), atrioventricular block of grade II or above, or implanted pacemaker.
• • 7. Inability to communicate due to coma, severe dementia, or language barrier before surgery, or unable to cooperate with intervention.
• • 8. American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status grade \>IV, or estimated survival \<24 hours.