Efficacy and mechanisms of neuromodulation in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), have a significant impact on patients, reducing their quality of life and work efficiency. Pharmacological therapy is primarily used as a frontline treatment option for treating IBS. However, owing to the heterogeneous characteristics of IBS and its limited pathophysiological understanding, pharmacological therapy is rather disappointing. Therefore, patients with IBS often use alternative therapies, such as electrical neuromodulation, to treat IBS-related symptoms. Neuromodulation includes invasive and noninvasive methods via implanted electrodes and transcutaneous electrodes, respectively. In this manuscript, we reviewed the therapeutic effects of several electrical neuromodulation approaches, including sacral nerve stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, auricular vagal nerve stimulation, and transcutaneous electrical acustimulation, on the symptoms of IBS. Additionally, we discussed the potential mechanisms, adverse effects, advantages, and disadvantages of different neuromodulation treatment methods.