Feinstein Institute Study Finds Way To Reverse Hemorrhagic Shock

Scientists at the Feinstein Institute and the department of neurosurgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell recently published a study describing their discovery that stimulation of the trigeminal nerve – the nerve which supplies feeling to the face – can reverse hemorrhagic shock due to acute blood loss and improve survival in an animal model.

In the study, Feinstein Institute assistant professor Dr. Chunyan Li and her team present a novel resuscitation approach of trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS), a form of bioelectronic medicine, to amend the adverse consequences of acute blood loss, reverse hemorrhagic shock, and improve survival.

“Our research supports that bioelectronic medicine is a promising treatment for bleeding and its resulting impact on the body,” said Dr. Li. “In this study, we show for the first time that trigeminal nerve stimulation has the potential to aid in maintaining blood pressure and extending the life of hemorrhagic shock victims.”

According to Northwell, hemorrhagic shock is one of the major causes of early death from trauma, accounting for around 40 percent of deaths, of which 33 to 56 percent occur before the patient even reaches a medical facility. Intravenous fluid therapy and blood transfusion is still the cornerstone of treating hemorrhagic shock. However, in addition to the controversies that surround optimal fluid choices, these interventions are usually not immediately available, resulting in poorer outcomes and increased mortality. Therefore, newer strategies are needed to manage patients suffering from hemorrhagic shock before they can receive definitive care.

“With promising early results, we will further explore how trigeminal nerve stimulation may serve as a new way to provide early resuscitation to patients before they are brought to a trauma center,” said Dr. Raj K. Narayan, Northwell Health’s senior vice president and executive director of neurosurgery, Feinstein Institute professor, and senior author of the paper. “There are also other related conditions that may benefit from this strategy.”