Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Quality of Recovery After Major Noncardiac Surgery
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a novel non-invasive neuromodulation technique. Existing evidence suggested that taVNS improves pain management, sleep quality, inflammatory responses, and gastrointestinal recovery after surgery. This study is designed to test the hypothesis that perioperative use of taVNS may improve quality of recovery in patients after major noncardiac surgery.
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.