RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT03603730

Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Functional Dyspepsia and Gastroparesis

Modulation of Gastric Sensitivity and Accommodation by Vagal Nerve Stimulation


Sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Enrollment

65 participants

Start Date

Nov 30, 2018

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Summary

Explore the effects of auricular transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) on brain and stomach outcomes in functional dyspepsia and gastroparesis patients.


Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 70 Years

Inclusion Criteria9

  • Volunteers, female and male, between 18 and 65 years of age.
  • For healthy volunteers, ability to undergo MRI for up to 2 hours.
  • For Functional Dyspeptic patients, diagnosis according to the Rome III criteria for both PDS and EPS subtypes.
  • For Gastroparesis patients, diagnosis will include the following criteria:
  • symptoms of gastroparesis of at least 12 weeks duration (does not have to be continuous) with varying degrees of nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and/or post-prandial fullness
  • an idiopathic etiology
  • abnormal gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) results using a 4 hour low fat Egg Beaters® protocol within the last 6 months with either a gastric emptying rate \> 60% retention at 2 hours and/or \>10% retention at 4 hours.
  • \) Stable medical treatment for Functional Dyspeptic or Gastroparesis during 1 month before study and during the study period.
  • \) Avoidance of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine for 24 hours prior to study session.

Exclusion Criteria31

  • History gastric/esophageal surgery
  • Any alternative treatment (e.g. acupuncture, hypnosis etc.) two weeks prior to the study or during the study period.
  • Illicit drugs or opioid use.
  • History of arrhythmias.
  • Implanted pacemaker.
  • Epilepsy or a prior history of seizures.
  • For Gastroparesis patients, inability to comply with or complete GES test (including allergy to eggs).
  • Pregnancy or nursing or plans to become pregnant.
  • Inability to provide informed consent.
  • BMI more than 32 and/or weight \> 235 lbs. (limits of the MRI table).
  • Contraindications for MRI: High magnetic fields may pose a serious health hazard to subjects with implanted ferromagnetic objects. Every subject in this study will be carefully screened before entering the high magnetic field shielded room to collect a precise outline of the subject's medical history. Subjects with the following characteristics/disease may not be eligible to participate in the study and will require additional screening:
  • History of Head Trauma
  • Any metallic implants (e.g. braces or permanent retainers)
  • Tattoos with metallic ink above the nipple line
  • Surgical Aneurysm Clips
  • Cardiac Pacemaker
  • Prosthetic Heart Valve
  • Neurostimulator
  • Implanted pumps
  • Cochlear Implants
  • Metal rods, Plates, Screws
  • Recent Previous Surgery
  • IUD
  • Hearing Aid
  • Dentures (which might create NMR artifacts)
  • Metal Injury to eyes
  • Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant
  • Breast Feeding
  • Meniere's Disease
  • Transdermal (skin) patches such as NicoDerm (nicotine for tobacco dependence), Transderm Scop, or Ortho Evra (birth control)
  • Claustrophobia

Interested in this trial?

Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.

Interventions

DEVICEtaVNS

Active or inactive taVNS delivered to the external ear at a moderate, non-painful level.


Locations(1)

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov

For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.

Visit

NCT03603730


Related Trials