Delivering Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN) to ICU Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury (tAN-TBI)
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Summary
The overarching goal of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and safety of transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tan) in ICU patients with TBi and to determine the effect of tan on serum markers of inflammation. exploratory analyses will examine effects on such physiological parameters as blood pressure, heart rate, and intracranial pressure (iCP), as well as measures of neurological function.
Description
This is a single-center, open-label, nonrandomized investigation. TBI patients with a post resuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 12 or less (commonly described as moderate or severe TBI) and acute traumatic intradural blood on head CT scan will be screened upon admission to the ICU at Parkland Memorial Hospital. It is expected that all or almost all subjects will be in the Neuroscience or Surgical ICU. Consent for participation will be sought from the subject's legally authorized representative. Exception from informed consent or waiver of consent will not be part of this study. tAN…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Post-resuscitation GCS score 12 or below and acute trauma-related intradural blood on head CT scan after TB 2. Age 18 years or older (pediatric trauma patients are not routinely transported to Parkland) 3. Consent from legally authorized representative Exclusion Criteria: 1. Hemodynamic instability 2. Expected imminent mortality because of overwhelming neurological and/or systemic injury 3. Unclear neurological status because of paralytic medications or intoxication with ethanol or other drugs 4. Presence of other electrical stimulation devices (pacemaker, cochlear pr…
Interventions
- DeviceSparrow Ascent Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN)
This method of simultaneous vagal and trigeminal stimulation via the external ear is known as transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tAN), as the targets of electrical stimulation include the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) and auriculotemporal nerve (ATN), which is a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. Electrodes applied to select dermatome regions can target ear neural structures and deliver non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS).
Location
- UT Southwestern Medical CenterDallas, Texas