Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Laboratory Administration of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS): Technique, Targeting, and Considerations
Published on: January 7, 2019
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation is associated with higher gastric antral motility in septic patients
Zhiyang Wu1, Xin Zhang2, Yankun Li3
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116027, PR China; Department of Critical Care Medicine, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266035, PR China.
Background:
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation approach engaging vagal afferent pathways involved in autonomic, gastrointestinal, and immune regulation; its effects on gastric motor function in critical illness remain uncertain.
Objective:
To assess feasibility, safety, and preliminary physiological signals of taVNS on gastric motility in septic patients with acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI).
Methods:
In this single-center, randomized, sham-controlled pilot trial with blinded outcome assessment, adult ICU patients with sepsis-associated AGI were randomized 1:1 to once-daily taVNS or sham stimulation for 7 days in addition to standard care. The primary outcome was gastric antral motility index (MI) measured by bedside ultrasonography on day 7. Secondary outcomes included enteral nutrition target attainment, inflammatory cytokines, gastrointestinal hormones, intestinal barrier injury markers, clinical outcomes, and adverse events; these were exploratory.
Results:
Sixty-six patients were randomized (33 taVNS, 33 sham) with comparable baseline characteristics. Baseline-adjusted Day-7 MI was higher with taVNS than sham. More taVNS-treated patients achieved prespecified enteral nutrition targets by day 7. Exploratory changes in cytokines, gastrointestinal hormones, and intestinal barrier markers were directionally consistent with possible physiological effects of taVNS. Ventilator-free days, ICU and hospital length of stay, and 28-day mortality did not differ. No serious stimulation-related adverse events occurred.
Conclusions:
TaVNS was feasible and well tolerated and showed preliminary signals of higher gastric antral motility in sepsis-associated AGI, with exploratory changes in gut-related physiological markers. These findings are hypothesis-generating. Larger trials are needed to confirm these observations and determine clinical efficacy.
