Acupuncture vs TENS for Gag Reflex

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Gagging

Treatments: Procedure: Acupuncture; Device: TENS; Device: Sham-TENS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04757948

IRB#18-000473

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examines if acupuncture or TENS of P-6 and St-36 acupoints has a measurable effect on gag tolerance.

Full description

The gag reflex is a normal protective mechanism, and portion of the population has an exaggerated reflex that can present major problems in dentistry as well as endoscopy. Early studies with acupuncture have been promising, but these studies are limited as has not been a way to objectively measure the response to gag reflex. Recent work by Drs. Karibe and Goddard has determined a novel way of measuring gag reflex in healthy subjects, which makes it possible to study the effects of an intervention on gag reflex.

Acupuncture has been demonstrated to be effective for treating gag reflex, but this effect has not been objectively demonstrated using this novel method. As such, this study investigates the effect of acupuncture against placebo on gag reflex. Practically speaking, these findings are unlikely to be of high value since the availability of acupuncturists at dental offices is limited. For this reason, the investigators added a third arm to evaluate the use of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) device on the same acupuncture points as a treatment intervention to see if this is non-inferior to acupuncture. TENS is an FDA regulated treatment for the treatment of pain, and has been 510K cleared for other uses including nausea. The placebo arm uses a TENS device that has the wire severed, so that the light will continue to blink but no current will be applied.

60 total subjects will be recruited and randomized into one of these three groups: acupuncture, TENS and Sham-TENS.

Passive EKG readings will be collected using the FirstBeat Bodyguard 2, which is a 2-lead EKG device that the subject will wear during the study. This is to later evaluate vagal tone by analyzing the spectral analysis of heart rate variability.

Once this device is affixed to the front of the patient's chest, the gag reflex will be measured. The subject will then undergo the appropriate treatment (acupuncture, TENS or Sham-TENS for a total of 20 minutes, with a subsequent gag reflex measurement. The subject will then rest for at least 5 minutes at the end of the study to collect final EKG data, then given a gift card for her time.

It is the hypothesis of the investigators that the treatments will increase gag tolerance in the following stepwise manner: Sham-TENS < TENS < Acupuncture

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 89 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• English Speaking

Exclusion criteria

• bleeding dyscrasias
• severe needlephobia
• pacemaker or other implanted electrical device

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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60 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Acupuncture

Experimental group

Description:

Sterile needles are inserted into acupuncture points P-6 and St-36 bilaterally and retained for a total of 20 minutes. Halfway through the treatment, the needles are manipulated in order to re-create the acupuncture sensation. The needles are removed after 20 minutes of treatment prior to the second gag measurement.

Treatment:

Procedure: Acupuncture

TENS

Experimental group

Description:

Gel pads are affixed to the acupuncture points P-6 and St-36, bilaterally. The amplitude of the TENS device will be gradually increased up to a maximum setting of 8/10, with the subject asked to notify the examiner as soon as any sensation is noticed. Once a gentle buzzing sensation is noticed, the amplitude will be reduced slightly for comfort and then the device will remain for the duration of 20 minutes. The pads are then removed prior to the second gag reflex measurement.

Treatment:

Device: TENS

Sham-TENS

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

For the sham-TENS group, the protocol is identical to the TENS group, however the electrical wires have been severed and re-attached in the control unit. As such, the unit will flash a light but there will be no current delivered. The subject is told that no sensation is required. The amplitude will be turned up to a maximum setting of 8/10 and left there for 20 minutes, then the device turned off and pads removed.

Treatment:

Device: Sham-TENS