Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Attenuation of Inflammatory Response and Blood Pressure in Type B Aortic Dissection

Patients with uncomplicated Type B aortic dissections (TBAD) are traditionally treated in the ICU for impulse control, with BP and HR goals. Local and systemic inflammation often is a resulting consequence of acute aortic dissection. Vagus nerve stimulation can impact hemodynamics and inflammation. This study will utilize a novel transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulator (taVNS) as part of the treatment for patients with TBAD. It's hypothesized that vagus nerve stimulation may provide benefit to the acute TBAD population admitted to ICU by two distinct mechanisms:

1. Through upregulation of parasympathetic pathways which may augment chemical heart rate and blood pressure control through bioelectric stimulation, and 2. downregulation of inflammatory pathways through a neuro-immunological axis.