The purpose of this study is to find out if we can stimulate the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a largely internal nerve that controls many bodily functions, including stomach function. We hope that electrically stimulating the nerve around the external ear will also stimulate the internal vagus nerve. If it does, then we hope that this will help our treatment of patients with nausea and vomiting and disordered stomach function.
Each participant will be randomized to receive Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation (PENFS) treatment with or without stimulation. The study involves 6 study visits. Study procedures include: removing and replacing the PENFS device, questionnaires, ECG, assessment use of galvanic skin response (GSR), pneumatic belt to assess breathing, physical examine, and blood draws.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
60
The IB-Stim is a percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulator (PENFS) system intended to be used in patients 11-18 years of age with functional abdominal pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The IB-Stim is intended to be used for 120 hours per week up to 3 consecutive weeks, through application to branches of Cranial Nerves V, VII, IX and X, and the occipital nerves identified by transillumination, as an aid in the reduction of pain when combined with other therapies for IBS.
SHAM (no electrical charge)
Indiana University Hospital
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Change in Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index Daily Dairy
ANMS GASTROPARESIS CARDINAL SYMPTOM INDEX - DAILY DIARY this tool uses a list of 7 criteria for rating gastric symptoms. The scale ratings are: None, Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Very Severe.
Time frame: Five weeks
Change in Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorder Symptoms
Scores are calculated by averaging the scores for each item in the subscale, with scores ranging from 0 (none or absent) to 5 (very severe). Optimal outcome would be a score of zero, no episodes/symptoms.
Time frame: Five weeks
Change in Heart Rate Variability
Heart Rate Variability is reported on a 0-100 scale.
Time frame: Five weeks.
Change in Anxiety
The General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7 scale is from 0-21, where 0= no anxiety and 21=severe anxiety
Time frame: Five weeks
Change in the measure of depression
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-8 is a questionnaire that measures self-reported depressive systems. PHQ-8 uses a range from 0-24, where 0=no depressive symptoms and 24=severe symptoms.
Time frame: Five weeks
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