Study protocol for a randomised double-blinded, sham-controlled, prospective, cross-over clinical trial of vagal neuromodulation for pain treatment in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The management of chronic pancreatitis (CP) is challenging and requires a personalised approach focused on the individual patient's main symptoms. Abdominal pain is the most prominent symptom in CP, where central pain mechanisms, including sensitisation and impaired pain modulation, often are involved. Recent clinical studies suggest that vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) induces analgesic effects through the modulation of central pain pathways. This study aims to investigate the effect of 2 weeks transcutaneous VNS (t-VNS) on clinical pain in patients with CP, in comparison to the effect of sham treatment.

Methods and analysis

Twenty-one patients with CP will be enrolled in this randomised, double-blinded, single-centre, sham-controlled, cross-over study. The study

SUBMITTER: Muthulingam JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6720238 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature