Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for prevention of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in older adults with gastrointestinal tumors: A randomized controlled trial.
Li Ma, Jianhua Xia, Xiangsheng Li et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in 103 older adults undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal tumor resection. The study found that from postoperative day 7, the taVNS group had significantly higher Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores compared to the sham group (p = 0.01), with maintained differences at months 1 and 3.
Key findings
- MoCA scores were higher in the taVNS group than in the sham group from postoperative day 7 onward (p = 0.01).
- Absolute between-group differences in MoCA scores were 2.06 and 2.97 points at postoperative months 1 and 3, respectively (both p < 0.01).
- The taVNS group had lower postoperative IL-1β and S100β levels than the control group on postoperative day 7 (both p < 0.001).
- Adverse event rates were similar between groups, approximately 4.1% in each, with mild local reactions.
Why it matters
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a significant concern in older adults, impacting recovery and quality of life. This study suggests that taVNS may offer a non-pharmacological approach to mitigate cognitive decline post-surgery, warranting further investigation.