Transauricular vagus nerve stimulation in hospitalized patients with active delirium: a feasibility study

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Delirium, an acute confusional state associated with illness or injury, affects >30% of critically ill patients[1] and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and institutionalization[2]. No FDA-approved therapies exist for delirium. Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation plays a key role in delirium pathophysiology[1]. The vagus nerve is a key regulator of inflammatory signaling via cholinergic pathways[3]. Thus, neuromodulation of the vagus nerve represents a novel therapeutic approach to target the underlying pathophysiology of delirium.