Acupoint Stimulation Improves Postoperative Wound Pain

Cheng-Hsin General Hospital

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Abdominal Surgeries; Pain; Acupuncture Points

Treatments: Other: Acupoint Stimulation; Other: Sham Acupoint Stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06978335

(1090)113A-20

Details and patient eligibility

About

Postoperative pain remains one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by surgical patients. Poorly managed postoperative pain can impede recovery, reduce patient willingness to mobilize, increase the risk of complications, and negatively affect overall quality of life. Currently, opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the primary pharmacological strategies for managing postoperative pain. However, these medications often carry the risk of adverse effects and may not adequately address all aspects of patient comfort and recovery.

In response to this challenge, this study aims to evaluate the effects of a non-pharmacological, non-invasive intervention-acupoint stimulation-on postoperative wound pain and mobilization in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute to the development of more diversified and patient-centered pain management strategies, with the expectation that the integration of Chinese and Western medicine will lead to improved patient care and enhanced postoperative recovery.

Enrollment: 72 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Surgical wound length ≥ 10 cm
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I to III
• Receiving intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA)
• Clear consciousness and ability to communicate
• Willingness to participate and provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of arrhythmia
• Implanted artificial cardiac pacemaker
• Cutaneous lesions at the acupoint or auricular application sites
• History of chronic pain or abdominal surgery within the past 6 months
• Non-ambulatory status prior to surgery

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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72 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental: Acupoint Stimulation

Experimental group

Description:

Acupoint stimulation was administered on six points and auricular points on three points on the left ear, additional auricular points were selected according to the abdominal organ involved in surgery and its corresponding meridian representation on the auricle.

Treatment:

Other: Acupoint Stimulation

Control: Sham Acupoint Stimulation

Sham Comparator group

Treatment:

Other: Sham Acupoint Stimulation