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Effects of Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Post-Surgical Return to Consciousness, Delirium, and Depression

NCT07610655 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2026-05-28

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study will examine whether noninvasive, transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tcVNS) can help restore consciousness in patients in the operating room and the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). The study will also investigate if tcVNS can expedite discharge from the PACU and examine whether tcVNS administerd in the PACU helps reduce delirium and depression after surgery. The study will also evaluate whether tcVNS speeds cognitive recovery from emergence of anesthesia and surgery.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation

The tcVNS device utilized in this study is not an implanted device, but rather is solely operated outside of the body by affixing it around the patient's ear. The device delivers stimulation of the vagus nerve at designated intensity, interval, and frequency.

DEVICE

Sham (No Treatment)

The stimulator is flipped upside down so that the participant does not receive stimulation of the vagal nerve.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Charles Hogue, MD · Northwestern University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-04-23
Primary Completion
2028-12-31
Completion
2029-05-31
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases
Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07610655 on ClinicalTrials.gov