Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025
Electroacupuncture Combined with Chinese Medicine Ironing Therapy for Functional Constipation
Published on: July 5, 2024
Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Chronic Constipation: A Multicenter, Randomized
Tangyi Liu1, Zeyu Wang1, Yunling Li2
1State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) in adult patients with chronic constipation.
Design:
Consecutive patients who met the Rome IV criteria for chronic constipation were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the taVNS group or the sham-taVNS group. Treatment consisted of 30 min of therapy twice a day for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the response rate at week 1-4, defined as the proportion of patients with a weekly complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM) of ≥ 3 and weekly excessive use of rescue medication ≤ 3 times. Secondary outcomes included spontaneous bowel movements, anxiety and depression scores, abdominal symptoms, and adverse events.
Results:
The study was terminated due to lack of efficacy revealed by the interim analysis. A total of 106 patients were randomized, with 52 participants in the taVNS group and 54 participants in the sham-taVNS group. After 4 weeks of treatment, the response rates were 17% (9/52) in the taVNS group and 19% (10/54) in the sham-taVNS group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.30-2.80, p = 1) or in the per-protocol (PP) analysis. No serious adverse events were reported.
Conclusion:
Our study did not support the effectiveness of 4-week 25 Hz taVNS for the treatment of adult chronic constipation patients.
Trial Registration:
clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT05723731.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS
01:22Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives
Bulk-forming laxatives, such as psyllium, methylcellulose, and polycarbophil, absorb water in the intestine, increasing stool bulk and promoting bowel movement. This...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome III: Medical and Nursing Management
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:20Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Other Laxatives
Osmotic or saline laxatives, like magnesium hydroxide or milk of...