Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for postoperative pain: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Researchers are planning a comprehensive review to investigate whether a special form of ear stimulation called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) can help reduce pain after surgery. Pain following surgical procedures is extremely common, affecting many patients and sometimes becoming a long-term problem. Current pain management typically involves multiple medications, but these approaches have significant limitations—individual drugs may not work well enough, and opioid painkillers carry serious risks including side effects and potential addiction. This has prompted medical professionals to search for safer alternatives that can work alongside reduced opioid use.

taVNS is a non-invasive technique that stimulates the vagus nerve through specific points on the outer ear, without requiring needles to penetrate the skin. Early research suggests this approach may help reduce surgical pain, improve patients' emotional well-being, and cause fewer negative side effects compared to conventional treatments. However, the technique hasn't been thoroughly evaluated across multiple studies, and there aren't standardized treatment protocols yet established.

This upcoming systematic review will search eight major medical databases covering both English and Chinese research to identify all relevant clinical trials. The researchers will analyze the combined data using rigorous statistical methods and assess the quality of evidence using internationally recognized standards. While this study won't provide final answers—it's a protocol describing the planned review process—it represents an important step toward understanding whether taVNS could become a valuable tool for managing post-surgical pain with fewer risks than current approaches. If you're interested in exploring acupuncture or related therapies for pain management, consult a licensed acupuncturist or qualified healthcare provider.

This protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis examining transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for postoperative pain management within the context of opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia. The researchers will conduct a comprehensive search across eight databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, and CBM) to identify relevant randomized controlled trials. Methodological quality will be assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0, with evidence strength evaluated through GRADE criteria. Data synthesis will be performed using RevMan 5.3, including meta-analyses, publication bias assessment, sensitivity analyses, and subgroup analyses. Preliminary evidence suggests taVNS may reduce postoperative pain intensity, improve mood states, and decrease adverse event rates compared to standard care. However, the authors acknowledge current evidence lacks comprehensive evaluation and standardized treatment protocols. This review aims to provide rigorous, reliable evidence regarding taVNS efficacy and safety for postoperative pain, potentially informing clinical practice regarding non-pharmacological adjunctive interventions in surgical settings.