Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in disorders of consciousness monitored by fMRI: The first case report

Over the last 10 years, the mortality of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) declined significantly with the development of intensive care. However, TBI and HIE survivors are largely suffering from disorders of consciousness (DOC), either temporary or long-lasting. DOC often increase the financial strain on families, impose a burden on medical resources, and raise ethical and legal issues [ [1] Monti M.M. Sannita W.G. Brain function and responsiveness in disorders of consciousness. Springer, 2016 Crossref Scopus (4) Google Scholar ]. Therefore, developing intervention for patients with DOC is extremely important.