Effects of taVNS Combined With Dexmedetomidine on POVN

The Effect of Dexmedetomidine Combined With Percutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Female Laparoscopic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To explore the effects and possible mechanisms of dexmedetomidine combined with taVNS on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in female patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery

Patients are recruited one week prior to the start of the trial, during which they are informed about the experimental protocol and associated risks. After obtaining informed consent and signatures, they are enrolled as study participants. Patients who meet the trial criteria are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the control group (sham taVNS group) and the intervention group (taVNS group, with taVNS intervention starting 30 minutes prior to anesthesia induction and continuing until the end of surgery, terminating after the removal of the endotracheal tube in the PACU), in a double-blind manner (with taVNS intervention and postoperative follow-up conducted by different researchers).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women aged 18 to 65;
• Elective laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia;
• Classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I to II;
• Capable of understanding the study procedures and various assessment scales and able to effectively communicate with the researchers;
• Willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with ASA anesthesia classification ≥ III;
• Poorly controlled hypertension, atrioventricular block ≥ second degree, obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m²);
• Pregnant or breastfeeding;
• Known allergy to drugs used in the study protocol, history of traumatic brain injury, history of gastrointestinal surgery;
• Liver or kidney dysfunction (liver enzymes or creatinine ≥ 1.5 times the normal value), alcoholism or drug abuse, mental illness, use of antiemetics, opioids, psychoactive drugs, or corticosteroids within 24 hours before surgery;
• Patients with implanted stimulators (such as pacemakers, implantable vagus nerve stimulators, deep brain stimulators, spinal cord stimulators, etc.), cochlear implants, or metal implants (except in dental cases);
• Skin lesions or dermatological diseases at the site of electrical stimulation;
• Preoperative heart rate < 50 bpm or the presence of sinoatrial node disease or second-degree or higher atrioventricular block;
• Patients unable to cooperate with assessments;
• Patients participating in other clinical trials.