Effect of taVNS on Perioperative Anxiety in Major Abdominal Surgery (NCT07495163) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Effect of taVNS on Perioperative Anxiety in Major Abdominal Surgery
China282 participantsStarted 2026-04-01
Plain-language summary
It is reported that over 50% of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery experience perioperative anxiety, which often triggers a vicious cycle of "anxiety-pain-gastrointestinal dysfunction" and significantly hinders postoperative recovery. Existing pharmacological and psychological interventions are limited by adverse effects such as respiratory depression, paralytic ileus, and poor patient compliance. While transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has shown promise as a non-invasive neuromodulation technique for chronic neuropsychiatric disorders, high-quality evidence regarding its application in anxiety-susceptible perioperative populations is still lacking. This multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, sham-controlled trial aims to recruit 282 patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery across four centers in Mainland China. Eligible participants will be randomized (1:1) to receive either taVNS or sham stimulation for 60 minutes daily from two days prior to surgery through the day of the operation. The primary outcome is the incidence of perioperative anxiety from the day of surgery to 72 hours postoperatively, while secondary outcomes include depression, sleep quality, pain intensity, postoperative delirium, frailty scores, quality of recovery, time to first flatus and defecation, and length of hospital stay.
Who can participate
Age range18 Years – 85 Years
SexALL
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Inclusion criteria
✓. Age: Between 18 and 85 years.
✓. Patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery under general anesthesia, with an anticipated operative duration of ≥ 2 hours and a predicted postoperative length of stay of ≥ 2 days.
✓. ASA classification I-III.
Exclusion criteria
✕. Active skin breakdown, erythema, swelling, infection of the ear, or significant anatomical abnormalities of the external ear.