Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Postoperative Recovery
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with postoperative recovery? 9 human studies have investigated VNS for postoperative recovery, including 1 systematic review, 7 RCTs, and 1 narrative review, published between 2020 and 2026, with 7 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS), and implanted (iVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
1 systematic review · 7 RCTs · 1 narrative review
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 1Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 7Randomised controlled trials
- 1Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 5taVNS
- 3tcVNS
- 1iVNS
Research Momentum
7 of 9 studies (78%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
9 studies · strongest evidence firstEffect of perioperative autonomic nervous system imbalance on surgical outcomes: a systematic review
Pan et al. · British journal of anaesthesia · 2025
systematic reviewstcVNSAuricular vagus nerve stimulation reduces postoperative delirium after major non-cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Shi et al. · Clinical Interventions in Aging · 2026 · n = 150
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for postoperative pain after laparoscopic gastrointestinal tumour surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Yi et al. · Pain and Therapy · 2026
RCTstaVNSTransauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Postoperative Analgesia following Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Xia et al. · Pain and therapy · 2025
RCTstaVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation to reduce ileus after colorectal surgery: randomized feasibility trial and efficacy assessment (IDEAL Stage 2B)
Chapman et al. · Colorectal Disease · 2024 · n = 97
RCTstcVNSLow-intensity transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation reduces postoperative ileus after laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial
Ru et al. · Minerva anestesiologica · 2023
RCTstaVNSNoninvasive vagus nerve stimulation to reduce ileus after major colorectal surgery: early development study
Chapman et al. · Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland · 2021
RCTsiVNSAuricular vagus nerve stimulation attenuates the acute inflammatory response after lung lobectomy
Salama et al. · World Journal of Surgery · 2020 · n = 100
RCTstaVNSThe landscape of epilepsy surgery in older adults: Challenges and opportunities
Punia · Epilepsia open · 2025
narrative reviewstcVNS
Registered trials — results pending
9 registered protocols with no published results yet. Listed for context; not counted in the evidence total.
'Transauricular vagus nerve stimulation' for prevention of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing major surgery: a study protocol for a multicentre, participant-blinded and assessor-blinded, randomised, controlled trial
Zhang et al. · 2025 · protocol
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Prevention of Postoperative Delirium in Older Adults Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol
Liao et al. · 2025 · protocol
Effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on postoperative delirium in older patients with hip fracture: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Zhou et al. · 2025 · protocol
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation prevents postoperative delirium in elderly patients (VNSTAR): protocol for a multicentre, randomised controlled trial
Wu et al. · 2025 · protocol
Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on postoperative liver function in patients undergoing partial hepatectomy: a study protocol for a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial
Wang et al. · 2025 · protocol
Clinical efficacy and mechanisms of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation targeting the gut-brain axis for postoperative complications of aortic dissection: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Ning et al. · 2025 · protocol
Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on perioperative psychological symptoms in patients undergoing elective thoracoscopic pneumonectomy under general anaesthesia: study protocol for a single-centre, prospective, randomised, double-blind, controlled study
Sun et al. · 2025 · protocol
Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on perioperative anxiety in patients undergoing radical mastectomy: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial
Tang et al. · 2025 · protocol
Postoperative Ileus and Postoperative Gastrointestinal Tract Dysfunction: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Novel Treatment Strategies Beyond Colorectal Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocols
Mazzotta et al. · 2020 · protocol