Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness
10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2025.03.011
- VernacularTitle:耳迷走神经电刺激对慢性意识障碍促醒的效果
- Author:
Longang HUA
1
;
Haifang LAI
;
Wei YANG
;
Yong LIU
;
Xiangming YE
Author Information
1. 上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院康复医学科,上海市 200025
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
prolonged disorders of consciousness;
transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation;
acupuncture
- From:
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice
2025;31(3):339-347
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation(ta-VNS)on the recovery of con-sciousness in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness(pDoC).Methods From January,2023 to August,2024,50 patients with pDoC in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital were ran-domly divided into control group(n=25)and observation group(n=25).Both groups received conventional wakefulness-promoting treatment and Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture,and the observation group added ta-VNS treatment on the basis of the control group,for four weeks.Each group was further divided into unresponsive wakefulness syndrome/vegetative state(UWS/VS)and minimally consciousness state(MCS)types based on their initial the score of Coma Recovery Scale-Revised(CRS-R).They were assessed with Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS),CRS-R,EEG grading and upper limb somatosensory-evoked potentials(SSEP)before and four weeks af-ter treatment.Results Three in the observation group and five in the control group dropped down for transferring to other hospitals.There was no significant difference in all the indexes between two groups before treatment(P>0.05).After treat-ment,the GCS score(|t|>16.000,P<0.001),CRS-R score(|t|>14.318,P<0.001)and N20 amplitude of SSEP(|t|>5.247,P<0.05)improved,the EEG grading was reduced(Z>2.264,P<0.05),and the N20 latency of SSEP was shortened(|t|>2.884,P<0.05)in both UWS/VS and MCS type patients in the observation group;and they were better in the observation group than in the control group for the same type(|t|>1.883,|Z|>2.244,P<0.05).Conclusion ta-VNS can significantly promote the awakening of patients with pDoC from UWS/VS and MCS,and im-prove the functional status of electroencephalogram activities and sensorimotor conduction pathways.
