The Journal of Practical Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 42 >Issue 9: 1649 - 1656

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2026.09.021

Treatise: Clinical Practice

A randomized controlled trial of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation to promote gastrointestinal recovery after laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery

  • Xiaoxiao GUO ,
  • Xinxiang ZHANG ,
  • Yan LI ,
  • Long QIAN ,
  • Wei CHENG ,
  • Qin YIN
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  • 1.Department of Anesthesiology，the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University，Xuzhou 221006，Jiangsu，China
    2.Department of Anesthesiology，Huai’an First People’s Hospital，Huai’an 223300，Jiangsu，China
    3.Department of Pain Treatment，the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University，Xuzhou 221006，Jiangsu，China

Received date: 2025-12-17

  Online published: 2026-04-29

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the impact of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation （taVNS） on the postoperative recovery of the gastrointestinal system in patients who have undergone laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery. Methods A total of 170 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery were randomly allocated to the taVNS group （n = 85） and the control group （n = 85）. Participants received three consecutive 30-minute sessions of active stimulation or sham stimulation at three time points： （1） one day before the operation， （2） 30 minutes before induction， and （3） upon arrival at the recovery room after the operation. The following parameters were recorded： the time to the first postoperative flatus and bowel movement； Intake-Nausea-Emesis-Examination-Duration （I-FEED） scores on the first， second， and third postoperative days； the incidence of nausea and vomiting within 48 hours after the operation； the pain numerical rating scale （NRS） immediately after extubation and on the first， second， and third postoperative days； the Athens Insomnia Scale （AIS） and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale （HADS） on the first， second， and third postoperative days； the early postoperative quality of recovery （QoR-15）， and the occurrence of postoperative adverse reactions. Results Compared with the control group， the taVNS group exhibited significantly shorter durations until the first postoperative flatus and bowel movement， a reduction in postoperative I-FEED scores， lower NRS scores immediately after extubation and on postoperative day 1， a decreased incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting at 48 hours， and an improvement in QoR-15 scores on postoperative day 1 （P < 0.05）. No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups in postoperative AIS scores or HADS scores （P > 0.05）. Conclusion TaVNS enhances postoperative gastrointestinal recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery， mitigates postoperative nausea and vomiting， alleviates postoperative pain， and facilitates recovery.

Key words： transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation; postoperative gastrointestinal function; laparoscopy; hepatobiliary surgery; cholecystectomy; hepatectomy

Cite this article

Xiaoxiao GUO , Xinxiang ZHANG , Yan LI , Long QIAN , Wei CHENG , Qin YIN . A randomized controlled trial of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation to promote gastrointestinal recovery after laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery[J]. The Journal of Practical Medicine, 2026 , 42(9) : 1649 -1656 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2026.09.021

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