Impact of Vagus Nerve Block on Cough After Lung Surgery

Effects of Vagus Nerve Pulmonary Branch Block on Postoperative Cough After Thoracoscopic Lung Resection

Not applicable Interventional Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University · NCT06500949

This study is testing if blocking a nerve can help reduce coughing in patients after lung surgery to see if it improves their recovery and quality of life.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment104 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorSecond Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (Hangzhou, Zhejiang)
Trial IDNCT06500949 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effects of a vagus nerve pulmonary branch block on postoperative cough in patients who have undergone video-assisted thoracoscopic lung resection. A total of 104 patients will be randomly assigned to receive either the nerve block or standard care, with the primary focus on measuring the incidence of cough three weeks post-surgery. Secondary outcomes will include assessments of hoarseness, peak expiratory flow, and cough severity at various intervals after the procedure. The goal is to determine if this intervention can improve recovery and quality of life for patients after lung surgery.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 70 with specific preoperative conditions undergoing thoracoscopic lung resection.

Not a fit: Patients with chronic cough from respiratory diseases or those with significant cardiac issues may not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce postoperative cough, enhancing recovery and quality of life for lung surgery patients.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of vagus nerve blocks has shown promise in reducing intraoperative coughing, this specific application for postoperative cough is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age between 18 and 70 years old.
* BMI between 18 and 30 kilograms per square meter (kg/m²).
* ASA Physical Status Classification of I, II, or III.
* Preoperative pulmonary imaging demonstrating peripheral lesions, with clinical staging T≤2, N≤1, M0.
* Undergone thoracoscopic lung resection surgery.
* Patients managed by the same lead surgeon's team.
* Obtained informed consent, with patients agreeing and signing the informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with a history of chemotherapy or previous pulmonary surgery.
* Presence of chronic cough due to respiratory infectious diseases, pharyngitis, rhinitis, COPD, asthma, post-nasal drip syndrome, etc.
* Individuals exhibiting ECG abnormalities such as atrial fibrillation, bundle branch block, frequent ventricular premature beats, pre-excitation syndrome, etc.
* Currently using ACE inhibitor medications.
* Presence of preoperative hoarseness.

Where this trial is running

Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Postoperative CoughThoracoscopyPulmonary ResectionVagusNerve BlockChronic coughPostoperative coughThoracoscopy or Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.