Ear zap during heart surgery may ward off Post-Op delirium

NCT ID NCT07476742

Not yet recruiting Symptom relief Sponsor: Chinese PLA General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests a device that gently stimulates a nerve in the ear during heart surgery. The goal is to see if it lowers the chance of postoperative delirium, anxiety, and depression. About 270 adults having elective heart surgery will be randomly assigned to receive real or sham stimulation. Neither the patients nor the doctors will know who gets which treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) device
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a simple, non-drug way to prevent confusion and mood problems after heart surgery.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage trial with no phase, so results are uncertain. The effect may be small or no better than sham stimulation.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anxiety anxiety disorder Depression depressive disorder Emergence Delirium

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ANXIETY CARDIAC SURGICAL PROCEDURES DEPRESSION POSTOPERATIVE POSTOPERATIVE DELIRIUM (POD)

Contacts and locations

Locations

First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Beijing, China

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