Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Postoperative Recovery
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with postoperative recovery? 18 human studies have investigated VNS for postoperative recovery, including 1 systematic review, 16 RCTs, and 1 narrative review, published between 2020 and 2026, with 15 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 · 16 RCTs · 1 narrative review
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 1Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 16Randomised controlled trials
- 1Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 12taVNS
- 5tcVNS
- 1iVNS
Research Momentum
15 of 18 studies (83%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
18 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 reviewstcVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Pectoral-Intercostal Fascial Block for the Prevention of Chronic Postsurgical Pain in Elderly Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A 2x2 Factorial, Double-Blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial
Cui et al. · Clinical Interventions in Aging · 2026 · n = 260
RCTstaVNSAuricular 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
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous 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. · Clinical interventions in aging · 2025
RCTstaVNS- RCTstaVNS
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. · Frontiers in neurology · 2025
RCTstaVNSThe landscape of epilepsy surgery in older adults: Challenges and opportunities
Punia · Epilepsia open · 2025
RCTstcVNSNon-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
RCTstcVNSNoninvasive 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
RCTstaVNSPostoperative Ileus and Postoperative Gastrointestinal Tract Dysfunction: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Novel Treatment Strategies Beyond Colorectal Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocols
Mazzotta et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology · 2020
narrative reviewstcVNS