Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41133770›Full record

ReviewPain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain2025

Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Cluster Headache: A Clinical Practice Guideline.

Peter J Goadsby, Alexander Feoktistov, Magdalena Anitescu, Miles Day, Peter Staats

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Cluster Headache: A Clinical Practice Guideline.Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Peter J GoadsbyNIHR King's Clinical Research Facility and Wolfson SPARC, King's College London, London, UK.
Alexander FeoktistovSynergy Integrative Headache Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Magdalena AnitescuDepartment of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Miles DayDepartment of Anesthesiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
Peter StaatsVagus Nerve Society, Atlantic Beach, Florida, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4079-5165

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCluster headache (CH) is a rare but severe primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of unilateral, typically periocular pain lasting 15 min to 3 h, accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic symptoms and restlessness or agitation. Attacks may occur multiple times daily and present in clusters lasting weeks to months, interspersed with remission periods in episodic CH, or without remission in chronic CH.

methodsThis review summarizes the clinical evidence supporting the use of transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation (tcVNS) for both the acute and preventive treatment of CH. Relevant clinical trials, real-world studies, and guideline recommendations are discussed.

resultsPharmacological therapy for CH includes triptans and high-flow oxygen for acute management, and verapamil, corticosteroids, or galcanezumab for prevention. For patients with inadequate response or intolerance to these options, neuromodulation may be required. TcVNS has emerged as a noninvasive, safe, and effective alternative to invasive neuromodulation. Clinical trials have demonstrated significant reductions in attack frequency and intensity, leading to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approval for both acute and preventive treatment of CH.

conclusionsTcVNS represents a well-tolerated, noninvasive neuromodulatory option for patients with cluster headache, offering both acute and preventive benefits. This paper provides an overview of the current evidence, mechanisms of action, and practical guidelines for incorporating tcVNS into clinical management.

Indexed as

Cluster HeadacheVagus Nerve StimulationClinical Trials as TopicHumansPractice Guidelines as Topicbioelectronic medicinecluster headacheheadache managementneuromodulationtcVNSvagus nerve stimulation

Identifiers

PMID41133770
PMCPMC12550881

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.