Auricular neurostimulation

There are very few effective treatment options for children with functional abdominal pain disorders. Children’s Wisconsin was the first center in the world to establish an auricular percutaneous neurostimulation program dedicated to helping children with functional pain disorders. Auricular neurostimulation is an innovative, non-pharmacological alternative to the many medications that are currently used to treat functional GI disorders in children. The therapy is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of abdominal pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome in children. Children's is currently one of few centers in the country offering this therapy.

What is auricular neurostimulation?

Auricular neurostimulation is an innovative technology that delivers non-invasive stimulation to the outer ear. A typical treatment course consists of four weeks of therapy but can be shorter or longer based on an individual child’s needs. 

How does it work?

Data suggests that auricular neurostimulation works by stimulation of branches of several cranial nerves, likely including the vagus nerve, in the ear.

The device itself is composed of a small battery unit and 4 electrodes attached to the ear with adhesives. The electrodes pierce the skin but generally cause no discomfort. The device settings deliver 3.2 volts with alternating frequencies, and most patients do not even feel the stimulation. The device is worn continuously for five consecutive days each week followed by removal in the home setting. 

No serious side effects have been reported with auricular neurostimulation and our studies show a 90 percent patient satisfaction rate with the therapy.

Neuraxis Center of Excellence 

Children's Wisconsin has been given the Neuraxis Center of Excellence designation! This recognition celebrates an unwavering commitment to providing exceptional pediatric care using IB-Stim technology. 

As the region's only independent healthcare system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children, Children's Wisconsin has been a leader in PENFS technology through high-volume clinical expertise and participation in pivotal studies that have advanced the science and our understanding of the gut-brain pathways related to PENFS. 

Our clinical trials

• Children's Wisconsin was the first hospital to offer this therapy after our team completed a large randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trial led by Dr. Katja Karrento. This study demonstrated safety of efficacy of four consecutive weeks of auricular neurostimulation for adolescents suffering from drug-refractory functional abdominal pain disorders. Abdominal pain, global well-being and functional disability all improved in the 104 patients studied. The results of this study was published in The Lancet, one of the world’s largest scientific journals, in 2017.
• Auricular neurostimulation was FDA-approved in 2017 for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome based on data from the above study performed at Children's.
• Our team has also demonstrated efficacy and mechanisms of auricular neurostimulation for children with cyclic vomiting syndrome and dysautonomia, supported by grants from the Medical College of Wisconsin's Digestive Disease Center and Dysautonomia International.
• Our team continues to investigate the effects and mechanisms of auricular neurostimulation via research studies at Children’s Wisconsin. Trials investigating auricular neurostimulation for nausea and vomiting disorders coupled with autonomic dysfunction are supported by grants from the National Institute of Health.