Pupillary Dilation During Post-Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients undergoing cochlear implantation:

• will be undergoing surgery for a cochlear implant

• is over the age of 18

• is willing to participate in the study

Patients undergoing vagal nerve stimulator implantation:

• will be undergoing implantable vagal nerve stimulation

• is over the age of 18

• is willing to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients undergoing cochlear implantation:

• is under the age of 18

• has history of prior ear surgery, congenital ear malformation, or cochlearimplantation

• pregnant or breastfeeding patients cannot undergo the standard-of-care implantationprocedures required for participation in the study.

• medical comorbidities resulting in exclusion are guided by the AANS exclusioncriteria for VNS and include the following:

• One vagus nerve

• Receiving other concurrent forms of brain stimulation

• Heart arrhythmias or other heart abnormalities

• Dysautonomias (abnormal functioning of the autonomic nervous system)

• Lung diseases or disorders (shortness of breath, asthma, etc.)

• Ulcers (gastric, duodenal, etc.)

• Vasovagal syncope (fainting)

• Pre-existing hoarseness

Patients undergoing vagal nerve stimulator implantation:

• is under the age of 18

• has history of prior ear surgery, congenital ear malformation, or cochlearimplantation

• pregnant or breastfeeding

• medical comorbidities resulting in exclusion are guided by the AANS exclusioncriteria for VNS and include the following:

• One vagus nerve

• Receiving other concurrent forms of brain stimulation

• Heart arrhythmias or other heart abnormalities

• Dysautonomias (abnormal functioning of the autonomic nervous system)

• Lung diseases or disorders (shortness of breath, asthma, etc.)

• Ulcers (gastric, duodenal, etc.)

• Vasovagal syncope (fainting)

• Pre-existing hoarseness