Current clinical application of vagus nerve stimulation
FENG Shan-gang
SHI Ye-tong
YIN Shao-ya
Abstract：Vagus nerve stimulation(VNS)as an established neuromodulation technique,has seen a continuous expansion in its range of approved indications since its initial approval for the adjunctive treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy.As of 2025,the Food and Drug Administration(FDA)has approved VNS for drug-resistant epilepsy,treatment-resistant depression,obesity,and post-stroke upper limb motor rehabilitation.Furthermore,it has demonstrated therapeutic potential in areas such as cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory disorders.This narrative review examines the current clinical applications of implantable VNS,with a focus on evaluating the evidence for its efficacy in core indications including drug-resistant epilepsy,depression,and obesity.It also explores the underlying mechanisms of action and discusses future directions for the expansion of indications as well as the associated challenges.The aim is to provide a theoretical foundation and clinical reference for optimizing treatment strategies and advancing research in this field.
Keywords：Vagus nerve stimulationDrug resistant epilepsyDepressive disorderObesityStrokeMotor disordersUpper extremityHeart failureInflammationReview
Publication Date：2026-01-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-04-07(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 85-91 )