Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Acute Pancreatitis

Launched by AIR FORCE MILITARY MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, CHINA · May 22, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating the effects of a treatment called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on patients with acute pancreatitis (AP), a condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed suddenly. The goal of the study is to see if taVNS can help reduce inflammation and improve gastrointestinal function, which are important for recovery from AP. The researchers believe that stimulating the vagus nerve may help manage both local and systemic inflammation, potentially leading to better outcomes for patients with this serious condition.

To be eligible for the trial, participants must be between 18 and 80 years old and diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. They should have a specific score related to the severity of their condition and should not have taken part in other clinical trials in the last three months. During the study, participants will receive either the taVNS treatment or a placebo (a treatment that does not have any active ingredients) to compare the results. It's important to note that individuals with certain other medical conditions or devices, such as implanted pacemakers, will not be able to participate. This trial is not yet recruiting, but it aims to provide valuable insights into a promising new approach to treating acute pancreatitis.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. AP patients aged 18-80 years.
• • 2. PAN-PROMISE score ≥15 and no participation in any other clinical trials within the past 3 months.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Presence of diseases or conditions different from AP that may interfere with the scale, for example, other causes of abdominal pain (especially acute cholecystitis), obstruction of the digestive tract (peptic pyloric stenosis, gastrointestinal anastomotic stenosis, diabetic gastroparesis, gastrointestinal neoplasia...), nausea-vomiting (brain tumour, chemotherapy...) or weakness (pre-existing anaemia with haemoglobin \<9 g/dL, heart failure or respiratory insufficiency associated with minimal effort dyspnoea, or domiciliary treatment with O2, advanced neoplasms or other debilitating diseases);
• • 2. Implanted cardiac pacemaker or other electronic devices;
• • 3. Prior treatment with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS);
• • 4. Known malignancy;
• • 5. Severe cardiovascular/cerebrovascular, hepatic, or renal diseases;
• • 6. Cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorders, or other conditions that may affect patient cooperation;
• • 7. Refusal to sign informed consent.