Effect of dual-acupoint and single-acupoint electric stimulation on postoperative outcomes in elderly patients subjected to gastrointestinal surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials. 2018 Dec 4;19(1):669. doi: 10.1186/s13063-018-3052-2.

Abstract

Background: Transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation (TEAS) has shown benefits when used peri-operatively. However, the role of numbers of areas with acupoint stimulation is still unclear. Therefore, we report the protocol of a randomized controlled trial of using TEAS in elderly patients subjected to gastrointestinal surgery, and comparing dual-acupoint and single-acupoint stimulation.

Methods/design: A multicenter, randomized, controlled, three-arm design, large-scale trial is currently undergoing in four hospitals in China. Three hundred and forty-five participants are randomly assigned to three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio, receiving dual-acupoint TEAS, single-acupoint TEAS, and no stimulation, respectively. The primary outcome is incidence of pulmonary complications at 30 days after surgery. The secondary outcomes include the incidence of pulmonary complications at 3 days after surgery; the all-cause mortality within 30 days and 1 year after surgery; admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and length of ICU stay within 30 days after surgery; the length of postoperative hospital stay; and medical costs during hospitalization after surgery.

Discussion: The result of this trial (which will be available in September 2019) will confirm whether TEAS before and during anesthesia could alleviate the postoperative pulmonary complications after gastrointestinal surgery in elderly patients, and whether dual-acupoint stimulation is more effective than single-acupoint stimulation.

Trials registrations: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03230045 . Registered on 10 July 2017.

Keywords: Elderly patients; Postoperative complication; Study protocol; Transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial Protocol

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Points*
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • China
  • Digestive System Surgical Procedures* / adverse effects
  • Digestive System Surgical Procedures* / economics
  • Digestive System Surgical Procedures* / mortality
  • Electroacupuncture / adverse effects
  • Electroacupuncture / economics
  • Electroacupuncture / methods*
  • Electroacupuncture / mortality
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / surgery*
  • Health Care Costs
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / economics
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / etiology
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / mortality
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03230045