The Role of a Vagal Stimulator to Reduce the Frequency and Duration on Nasogastric Tube Following Abdominal Surgery

Abdominal surgery, laparoscopic or open, is frequently performed at UPMC Shadyside hospital. One of the most frequent complications following abdominal surgery is a postoperative ileus. Although postoperative ileus may be the result of obstruction or leakage, in most cases postoperative ileus (POI) is the result of local irritation because of fluid overload, exogenous opioids, neurohormonal dysfunction, gastrointestinal stretch, local bleeding and inflammation. POI usually lasts between 2 to 7 days. In most cases, a nasogastric tube (NG tube) is used to relieve that gastric pressure until the resolution of the POI. The placement of a NG tune can lead to a local trauma, bleeding and pain. Pain represents a major complaint among those with POI, often contributing to prolonged hospital stays.

It has been well established that bile function is modulated by the vagal nerve. Therefore, a non-invasive vagal stimulation administered post-operatively may facilitate the resolution of POI, accelerate the return to bile function and shorter the hospital length of stay following major abdominal surgery. Anecdotally, the use of a vagal nerve stimulator has been shown to avoid the placement of a NG tube.

In most cases, postoperative ileus is considered a benign and reversible complication that occurs in 10-30% of patients following abdominal surgery. The use of anesthesia, the use of opioids and anti-inflammatory drugs, hypokalemia, local inflammation, local hematoma, can all contribute to the development of a POI, and its treatment often requires the placement of a NG tube. The placement of a NG tube is not always effective if it is not positioned properly and is associated of a local trauma, misplacement of the NG tube, prolonged pain, and hospital stay. It is always very uncomfortable for the patient. Since the gastro-intestinal motility is regulated by the vagal nerve, the use of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulator may represent an interesting technique to reduce the frequency of this complications associated with the use of a nasogastric tube including local trauma, misplacement and pain on insertion, and constant pain as long as the NG tube remain in place.