NCT07045090

The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined With Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Surgery

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 116 (actual)
• Sponsor: Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The aim of this clinical trial is to study the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with auricular vagus nerve stimulation on postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. The study aims to answer the following main questions 1. whether it reduces the expression of inflammatory factors in the acute postoperative period 2. whether it can reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium

Detailed description

Existing clinical studies have shown that TEAS has demonstrated value in preventing postoperative delirium (POD). Currently, taVNS is commonly used clinically to improve patients' cognitive dysfunction (POCD), and POD is often considered a precursor to the development of POCD. However, no one has yet used the two in combination, so this study aimed to combine the two to investigate their potential benefits in preventing POD.

Conditions

• Postoperative Delirium

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation	Before induction of anaesthesia, electrodes were attached to selected acupoints and energised for 30 min, with the electrical stimulation parameter of dispersed dense wave (2/100 Hz), and the current intensity was based on the maximum current intensity that could be tolerated by the patient.
DEVICE	Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with auricular vagus nerve stimulation	Before anaesthesia induction, the electrodes were attached to the selected acupoints and energized for 30 min, with the electrical stimulation parameters of dispersed dense wave (2/100Hz), and the current intensity was based on the maximum current intensity that the patient could tolerate. At the same time, the left ear auricular region was stimulated with a fasciculus nerve stimulator, the electrical stimulation parameters were: pulse width of 250 μs, pulse frequency of 20Hz, every 30s on, 30s off, and then 30s on again, the current intensity was based on the maximum current intensity that the patient could tolerate, for 30min.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-05-01
• Primary completion: 2024-11-01
• Completion: 2024-11-01
• First posted: 2025-07-01
• Last updated: 2025-07-01

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China