Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Sepsis
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with sepsis? 3 human studies have investigated VNS for sepsis, including 2 RCTs and 1 narrative review, published between 2012 and 2025, with 2 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), implanted (iVNS), and transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
2 RCTs · 1 narrative review
3
Human Studies
2
RCTs
—
Participants
2012–2025
Years Spanned
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 2Randomised controlled trials
- 1Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 1taVNS
- 1iVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
2 of 3 studies (67%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
3 studies · strongest evidence firstEffects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on sepsis-induced coagulopathy: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Yang et al. · BMJ open · 2025
RCTstaVNSNon-invasive Auricular Vagus nerve stimulation for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (NAVSaH): Protocol for a prospective, triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial
Huguenard et al. · PloS one · 2024
RCTstcVNSThe vagus nerve and the inflammatory reflex: wandering on a new treatment paradigm for systemic inflammation and sepsis
Huston · Surgical infections · 2012
narrative reviewsiVNS