Effects of tDCS and VNS on Postoperative Analgesia
ConditionAcute Postoperative Pain
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorColumbia University
About this trial
This study seeks to evaluate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and Afferent Vagus nerve simulation (VNS) in treating acute postoperative pain of patients in the post-anesthesia care unit after general surgery.
Study outcomes will include changes in pain levels and vital signs. For patients who are admitted after surgery, opioid consumption in the 24 hours after surgery and time from surgery to discharge are recorded as secondary outcomes.
Patients will be divided in the following comparison groups:
* Group +/+ will receive ten minutes of active tDCS followed by ten minutes of active VNS. * Group +/- will receive ten minutes of active tDCS followed by ten minutes of sham VNS. * Group -/+ will receive ten minutes of sham tDCS followed by ten minutes of active VNS. * Group -/- will receive ten minutes of sham tDCS followed by ten minutes of sham VNS.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adults aged 18 years or above with the capacity to provide informed consent who are undergoing an elective surgery requiring general anesthesia
Disqualifiers
cardiac bradyarrhythmia: taking beta-blockers;
patients with metal implants around the chest, neck, or head (e.g. implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, deep brain stimulation devices);
pregnancy
history of epilepsy or seizures.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Active transcranial direct current stimulation
- Active vagus nerve stimulation
- Sham transcranial direct current stimulation
- Sham vagus nerve stimulation
Treatment groups
200 Participants
are divided into 4 treatment groupsLocations
Sponsors and collaborators
Source ClinicalTrials.gov