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Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation to Prevent Tachyarrhythmias in Patients Early Following Myocardial Infarction

Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation to Prevent Tachyarrhythmias in Patients Early Following Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05750108
Acronym
EARLY-VAGUS
Enrollment
40
Registered
2023-03-01
Start date
2023-06-30
Completion date
2024-12-31
Last updated
2023-03-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Myocardial Infarction, Tachyarrhythmia

Keywords

transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation

Brief summary

Among patients early following ST-segment (ST) elevation myocardial infarction, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation is associated with a reduce of the burden of premature ventricular contractions in the first 40 days post-myocardial infarction (MI). The above hypothesis will be tested with a randomized, prospective, parallel, single-blind clinical trial. The expected study duration is approximately 12 months from the time the first subject is enrolled (planned for June 2023) to the time of study's termination date (December 2024). Patient enrollment is planned to take place at two major centers in Greece. The researchers will obtain approval by the institutional review board (IRB).

Interventions

DEVICEParasym device (active, current (mA) < discomfort threshold)

Active transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) (Parasym device, Parasym Health, Inc, London, UK) will be performed with a clip attached to the ear at 20 hertz (Hz), 250 microseconds (ms) at a current just below discomfort threshold for 30 minutes twice a day, starting on post-MI day 0. Stimulation will continue until 7 days post-MI or discharge.

DEVICEParasym device (sham, current (mA) = 0)

Parasym device will be attached to the ear twice a day, turned on but current set to 0 milliamp (mA), starting on post-MI day 0. Stimulation will continue until 7 days post-MI or discharge.

Sponsors

Hippocration General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male or female patients aged ≥18 years * ST-elevation myocardial infarction which is treated with a primary percutaneous coronary intervention * Signed written informed consent by the patient for participation in the study and agreement to comply with the medication and the follow-up schedule

Exclusion criteria

A patient will be excluded from the study if one or more of all the following criteria are present: * \< 3 months after prior ablation * Patients on amiodarone * Patients with known thyroid issues, on renal-dialysis * Life expectancy of \< 12 months * Complex congenital heart disease * Cardiogenic shock * Women who are pregnant (as evidenced by pregnancy test if pre-menopausal) * Known channelopathy such as Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome, or Catecholaminergic monomorphic ventricular tachycardia * Symptomatic sinus bradycardia or sinus node dysfunction at baseline without an implantable pacemaker * Complete heart block or trifascicular block without an implantable pacemaker * Recurrent vasovagal syncope * Pre-existing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) * Secondary prevention indication for an ICD (i.e. sustained ventricular arrhythmias occurring more than 48 hours after qualifying myocardial infarction (patients with ventricular arrhythmias occurring ≤48 hours of myocardial infarction, or with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia at any time, are not excluded)) * On the heart transplant list * Recurrent unstable angina despite revascularisation (defined as ongoing chest pain or ischemic symptoms at rest or with minimal exertion despite adequate treatment with anti-anginal medications) * Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association class IV, defined as shortness of breath at rest, which is refractory to medical treatment (not responding to treatment)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change of Ventricular tachycardia burden1, 7 and 40 days follow-upPatients will undergo noninvasive continuous ECG monitoring using a 24-hour Holter monitoring at 1, 7 and 40 days to evaluate their number of Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and number of Non-Sustain Ventricular Tachycardias (NSVT).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change of Deceleration Capacity (DC)1, 7 and 40 days follow-upPatients will undergo noninvasive continuous ECG monitoring using a 24-hour Holter monitoring at 1, 7 and 40 days to evaluate Deceleration Capacity
Change of Echocardiographic strain1, 7 and 40 days follow-upPatients will undergo echocardiography at 1, 7 and 40 days to assess Myocardial substrate lesions and Post-infraction fibrosis
Change of Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction (LVEF)1, 7 and 40 days follow-upPatients will undergo echocardiography at 1, 7 and 40 days to assess Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction
Change of Signal Averaged ECG1, 7 and 40 days follow-upPatients will undergo a 12-lead electrocardiogram at 1, 7 and 40 days
Change of Heart Rate Turbulence1, 7 and 40 days follow-upPatients will undergo noninvasive continuous ECG monitoring using a 24-hour Holter monitoring at 1, 7 and 40 days to evaluate Heart Rate Turbulence
Change of T Wave alternans and equal indexes derived from holter monitoring1, 7 and 40 days follow-upPatients will undergo noninvasive continuous ECG monitoring using a 24-hour Holter monitoring at 1, 7 and 40 days
Change of QT duration1, 7 and 40 days follow-upPatients will undergo noninvasive continuous ECG monitoring using a 24-hour Holter monitoring at 1, 7 and 40 days
Pain assessment7 days follow-upPain scores will be assessed on postoperative days 0-7 using the visual analog score (Scale 0-10). Zero for no pain and ten being the worst pain experienced. They will be obtained and recorded into the medical record by the nurse monitoring the subject as part of standard care
Number of participants with adverse effects7 days follow-upNumber of participants with pruritus, flush, pain at the stimulation site
Change of Heart Rate Variability1, 7 and 40 days follow-upPatients will undergo noninvasive continuous ECG monitoring using a 24-hour Holter monitoring at 1, 7 and 40 days to evaluate Heart Rate Variability

Countries

Greece, United Arab Emirates, United States

Contacts

Primary ContactKonstantinos Tsioufis, Professor
ktsioufis@hippocratio.gr2132088000

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026