Auricular nerve stimulation using the NSS-2 BRIDGE device to reduce opioid requirement following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Background: Evidence supports the use of complementary techniques to reduce pain and opioid use after surgery. The NSS-2 BRIDGE device (NBD; Innovative Health Solutions, Inc., Versailles, Indiana) modulates pain via stimulation of the nucleus of the auricular branch of the cranial nerves at the level of the brainstem and the limbic system. Objective: To investigate the role of auricular nerve field stimulation for pain control following gastric bypass surgery. Settings: U.S. academic medical center. Methods: A total of 18 subjects were included. Subjects were divided in 2 groups: NBD group (n = 8) and a control group (n = 10). The NBD was placed following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) surgery in the recovery room. The effectiveness of NBD was assessed comparing the relative use of opioid consumption (oral morphine equivalents) and pain (0 = no pain to 10= worst possible pain) at 24 and 48 hours after surgery. In addition, the device tolerability (1-10) was assessed, with 8-10 considered excellent. Data were analyzed using unpaired t tests and presented as mean +/- standard deviation. Alpha was set up at .1. Results: Compared with the control group, the use of NBD was associated with a 60.2% reduction in oral morphine equivalents (38.15 vs 15.2 mg; P < .1) and a 28% reduction in pain (5.0 vs 3.6; P = .1) at 24 hours after surgery. The tolerability of NBD was reported to be excellent. Conclusions: This report suggests that NBD may represent an interesting alternative to control perioperative pain and limit opioid use following bariatric surgery. This needs to be confirmed by a placebo-controlled, randomized study. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Automated summary

Evidence supports using complementary techniques like auricular nerve field stimulation for pain control post-surgery. The NBD device showed a significant reduction in opioid use and pain levels following gastric bypass surgery, with good tolerability. Further placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.