Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Following Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Anna Huguenard
Summary
This study will evaluate whether non-invasive auricular vagal nerve stimulation lowers inflammatory markers, and improves outcomes following spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Description
Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has been studied in several inflammatory conditions, and has been implemented in animal models of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with promising results. The purpose of the proposed study is to determine how applying auricular VNS in patients presenting with spontaneous SAH impacts their expression of inflammatory markers in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and how it impacts their clinical course and outcomes. This study will involve randomizing patients to stimulation with VNS, or sham stimulation. Blood and CSF will be collected on admission, and seria…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage Exclusion Criteria: * Trauma-induced subarachnoid hemorrhage * Ongoing chemotherapy * Taking immunosuppressive medications for other medical illnesses * Presence of a pacemaker * Prolonged bradycardia at time of admission
Interventions
- DeviceAuricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation
- DeviceSham Auricular Vagus nerve Stimulation
Transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve ear clip applied without current
Location
- Washington University School of MedicineSt Louis, Missouri