Trial Outcomes & Findings for Acupuncture for Reduction of Inflammation (NCT NCT01937520)

NCT ID: NCT01937520

Last Updated: 2017-04-13

Results Overview

analgesia provided in Post Anesthesia Care Unit PACU)

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

20 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

amount of pain medication provided in PACU

Results posted on

2017-04-13

Participant Flow

Participants were recruited in a Same Day Surgery Suite at a academic medical center. The first participant was enrolled on 7/2/13 and last patient enrolled on 7/15/14.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Acupuncture
acupuncture will be administered after anesthesia induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects but since they will be under general anesthesia they will not be aware that they are the control group no acupuncture: placebo
Overall Study
STARTED
11
9
Overall Study
COMPLETED
11
9
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Acupuncture for Reduction of Inflammation

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Acupuncture
n=11 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. Since they are under general anesthesia they will not realize they are acting as control group no acupuncture: placebo
Total
n=20 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Customized
<45 years
6 participants
n=5 Participants
2 participants
n=7 Participants
8 participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Customized
45 years or older
5 participants
n=5 Participants
7 participants
n=7 Participants
12 participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
9 Participants
n=7 Participants
18 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
11 participants
n=5 Participants
9 participants
n=7 Participants
20 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: amount of pain medication provided in PACU

Population: All subjects enrolled in study

analgesia provided in Post Anesthesia Care Unit PACU)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=11 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Reduced Pain Medication Requirement
5.43 mg of Morphine
Standard Error 1.70
7.36 mg of Morphine
Standard Error 1.49

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: arrival in PACU to 2 hours post operatively

Population: all study participants

VAS is a self reported pain scale with a score ranging from 0 to 10. 0= no pain, 10=worst pain possible. Multiple pain sacores were recorded. single value is reported by average

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=11 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Visual Acuity Score (VAS)
5.36 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.97
6.67 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.01

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: PACU, day 1 , day 2, day 3

Population: since gender impacts the threshold for analgesic and pain the effects of electroacupuncture on females was analyzed. The same number of females were in both groups but since one subject had preexisting levels of TNF\>1ug/ml prior to surgery she was eliminated from the dta base

equivalent doses of morphine for analgesic relief. All analgesic treatments were converted to morphine equivalents in milligrams.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Morphine Equivalent
PACU
3.19 mg morphine
Standard Error 1.59
7.36 mg morphine
Standard Error 1.49
Morphine Equivalent
Day 1
6.31 mg morphine
Standard Error 2.14
9 mg morphine
Standard Error 2.44
Morphine Equivalent
Day 2
9.84 mg morphine
Standard Error 3.44
7.42 mg morphine
Standard Error 2.37
Morphine Equivalent
Day 3
7.93 mg morphine
Standard Error 3.35
5.25 mg morphine
Standard Error 2.32

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: PACU, day 1 , day 2, day 3

Population: female patients self reported pain experience following surgery

Visual Acuity scale 0=no pain 10= worst pain possible

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Pain Levels
PACU
4.88 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.29
6.67 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.01
Pain Levels
Day 1
6.67 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.09
5.56 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.96
Pain Levels
day2
5 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.09
5.93 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.49
Pain Levels
day3
4.28 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.95
3.33 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.96

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: serum ACTH from baseline/preoperatively,intraoperatively, upon arrival in PACU

Population: females

All blood samples were collected during general anesthesia, the first prior to surgical incision and electroacupuncture, the second 60 minutes after incision time and at the completion of electroacupuncture, the third after arrival in PACU but before the administration of analgesia. The data below represents female patients only

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
(ACTH )Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
preoperative
8.56 pg/ml
Standard Error 2.60
21.32 pg/ml
Standard Error 7.08
(ACTH )Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
intraoperative
15.26 pg/ml
Standard Error 12.13
21.41 pg/ml
Standard Error 8.30
(ACTH )Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
postoperative
53.36 pg/ml
Standard Error 33.84
202 pg/ml
Standard Error 74.37
(ACTH )Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
post op<45years
110 pg/ml
Standard Error 88.94
276.1 pg/ml
Standard Error 221.9
(ACTH )Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
postop>45 years
19.4 pg/ml
Standard Error 8.09
177.3 pg/ml
Standard Error 80.96
(ACTH )Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
postop<75kg
15.03 pg/ml
Standard Error 5.85
27.85 pg/ml
Standard Error 14.35
(ACTH )Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
postop>75 kg
83.48 pg/ml
Standard Error 68.23
376.2 pg/ml
Standard Error 73.39

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: PACU to 2 hours post op

Population: females grouped by age (\<45 years and 45 years or greater)

All analgesic treatments were converted to morphine equivalents in milligrams .

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Morphine Equivalent
< 45 years old
2 mg of Morphine
Standard Error 1.16
9.75 mg of Morphine
Standard Error 2.75
Morphine Equivalent
> 45 years old
3.9 mg of Morphine
Standard Error 2.52
6.68 mg of Morphine
Standard Error 1.76

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: PACU arrival to 2 hours post op

Population: females with body weight \<75 kg and \>than 75 kg

morphine equivalent to analyze whether body weight affected the efficacy of electroacupuncture

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Morphine Equivalent (mg)
<75 kg
3.25 mg morphine
Standard Error 2.38
9.69 mg morphine
Standard Error 1.48
Morphine Equivalent (mg)
>75 kg
4.63 mg morphine
Standard Error 2.63
5.5 mg morphine
Standard Error 2.17

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 1, 2, 3

Population: all females

Modified patient self reported scale with 9 questions regarding general well being including ability to eat, free from constant pain, able to manage activities of daily living. 0= worst possible score and 18=best outcome score

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Modified Quality of Recovery Scale
Day 1
14.5 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.98
13.33 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.85
Modified Quality of Recovery Scale
Day 2
16 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.73
15.89 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.75
Modified Quality of Recovery Scale
Day 3
17.57 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.3
17 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.33

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: prior to surgical incision, 1 hour following incision, after arrival in PACU

Population: females

All blood samples were collected during general anesthesia, the first prior to surgical incision and electroacupuncture, the second 60 minutes after incision time and at the completion of electroacupuncture, the third after arrival in PACU but before the administration of analgesia.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Cortisol
postoperative
267.4 ng/ml
Standard Error 89.33
394.4 ng/ml
Standard Error 104.6
Cortisol
preoperative
173.6 ng/ml
Standard Error 83.3
155.2 ng/ml
Standard Error 40.37
Cortisol
intraoperative
103.1 ng/ml
Standard Error 19.93
145.2 ng/ml
Standard Error 26.85
Cortisol
postoperative<45 years
375.6 ng/ml
Standard Error 229.1
480 ng/ml
Standard Error 302.1
Cortisol
postoperative>45 years
202.4 ng/ml
Standard Error 61.55
365.8 ng/ml
Standard Error 116.9
Cortisol
postoperative<75 kg
252.1 ng/ml
Standard Error 88.76
170.7 ng/ml
Standard Error 67.28
Cortisol
postoperative>75 kg
296 ng/ml
Standard Error 180.5
618.1 ng/ml
Standard Error 114.6

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: serum glucose from baseline to PACU arrival

Population: females

the first two blood samples were collected during general anesthesia, the first prior to surgical incision and electroacupuncture, the second 60 minutes after incision time and at the completion of electroacupuncture, the third after arrival in PACU but before the administration of analgesia.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Glucose
preoperative
150.4 mg/dL
Standard Error 11.36
164.4 mg/dL
Standard Error 10.94
Glucose
intraoperative
154.3 mg/dL
Standard Error 8.75
187.1 mg/dL
Standard Error 15.82
Glucose
postoperative
152.8 mg/dL
Standard Error 7.76
208.1 mg/dL
Standard Error 13.36
Glucose
post op < 45 years
154.7 mg/dL
Standard Error 9.39
190 mg/dL
Standard Error 26
Glucose
post op > 45 years
151.6 mg/dL
Standard Error 11.88
213.3 mg/dL
Standard Error 15.93
Glucose
postop <75 kg
144.3 mg/dL
Standard Error 7.22
210.3 mg/dL
Standard Error 32.46
Glucose
post op >75 kg
148.5 mg/dL
Standard Error 9.06
206.4 mg/dL
Standard Error 2.98

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: preoperatively-intraoperatively-postoperatively

Population: female subjects

First two blood samples were collected during general anesthesia, first prior to surgical incision and Electro-acupuncture (EA), 2nd 60 minutes after incision and EA, third after arrival in PACU but before administration of analgesia. TNF is a critical pyrogen produced during acute phase of a reaction to trauma.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)
postoperative
1.98 pg/ml
Standard Error 1.0
1.9 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.7
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)
preoperatively
1.88 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.67
2.14 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.63
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)
intraoperative
2.09 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.62
2.25 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.74

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Preoperatively-intraoperatively-postoperatively

Population: all females

both are IL-2 and IL-4 are critical cytokines regulating the cellular response to induce cellular versus hormone immunity. First two blood samples were collected during general anesthesia: first prior to surgical incision and electroacupuncture, second 60 minutes after incision and electroacupuncture and the 3rd after arrival in PACU but before analgesia.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
iNTERLEUKIN (IL-2 and IL-4)
IL-2 postoperative
2.33 pg/ml
Standard Error 1.31
2.77 pg/ml
Standard Error 2.24
iNTERLEUKIN (IL-2 and IL-4)
IL-2preoperative
2.64 pg/ml
Standard Error 1.53
4.26 pg/ml
Standard Error 3.62
iNTERLEUKIN (IL-2 and IL-4)
IL-2intraoperative
2.38 pg/ml
Standard Error 1.3
3.4 pg/ml
Standard Error 2.87
iNTERLEUKIN (IL-2 and IL-4)
IL-4 preoperative
0.52 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.15
0.59 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.25
iNTERLEUKIN (IL-2 and IL-4)
IL-4 intraoperative
0.57 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.27
0.56 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.28
iNTERLEUKIN (IL-2 and IL-4)
IL-4 postoperative
0.41 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.12
0.37 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.1

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Preoperatively-intraoperatively-postoperatively

Population: total female results; then females divided into age groups (\<45 or \>45years) and weights groups (\<75kg and \>75kg)

First two blood samples were collected during general anesthesia, first prior to Surgical incision and EA, 2nd 60 minutes after incision and EA and the 3rd after arrival in PACU but before administration of analgesia. IL-6 is a critical inflammatory cytokine produced during the acute phase of reaction to trauma

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
IL-6
IL-6 preoperatively
3.58 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.92
4.65 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.34
IL-6
IL-6 intraoperatively
4.98 pg/ml
Standard Error 1.1
4.66 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.4
IL-6
IL-6 postoperatively
26.96 pg/ml
Standard Error 10.35
27.45 pg/ml
Standard Error 7.85
IL-6
IL-6 <45 yrs post op
23.10 pg/ml
Standard Error 5.3
30.9 pg/ml
Standard Error 6.9
IL-6
IL-6 >45 yrs postop
29.28 pg/ml
Standard Error 16.97
26.46 pg/ml
Standard Error 10.14
IL-6
IL-6 <75 kg postop
37.15 pg/ml
Standard Error 28.41
16 pg/ml
Standard Error 3.4
IL-6
IL-6 >75 kg postop
25.44 pg/ml
Standard Error 4.47
36.61 pg/ml
Standard Error 12.95

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Preoperatively-intraoperatively-postoperatively

Population: total females; then those grouped by age (\<45years and\>45 years) and weight (\<75 Kg and \>75kg)

IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine marker. First two blood samples were collected during general anesthesia, first prior to surgical incision and EA, 2nd 60 minutes following incision and EA, and the third after arrival in PACU but before administration of analgesia.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
IL-10
IL_10 intraoperative
7.28 pg/ml
Standard Error 1.62
7.81 pg/ml
Standard Error 2.22
IL-10
IL-10 postoperative
16.15 pg/ml
Standard Error 9.4
16.14 pg/ml
Standard Error 4.07
IL-10
IL-10 preoperatively
5.35 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.93
6.0 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.8
IL-10
IL-10 <45 yrs postop
40.23 pg/ml
Standard Error 13.64
13.64 pg/ml
Standard Error 10.07
IL-10
IL-10 >45 postop
7.7 pg/ml
Standard Error 1.19
16.86 pg/ml
Standard Error 4.8
IL-10
IL-10 <75kg postop
8.6 pg/ml
Standard Error 1.6
10.7 pg/ml
Standard Error 4.46
IL-10
IL-10>75kg postop
32.18 pg/ml
Standard Error 26.58
20.47 pg/ml
Standard Error 6.1

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Preoperatively-intraoperatively-postoperatively

Population: all females; then females by groups age (\<45 years and \>45 years) and weight (\<75kg and \>75kg)

TGFB1 is a pleiotropic factor regulating the immune system and healing. First two blood samples drawn under general anesthesia, first prior to surgical incision and EA, the 2nd 60 minutes after incision and EA, third after arrival in PACU but before administration of analgesia.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
TGFB1
>45 yrs postop
46.2 pg/ml
Standard Error 9.9
15.2 pg/ml
Standard Error 2.8
TGFB1
<75 kg postop
56.76 pg/ml
Standard Error 13.51
13.96 pg/ml
Standard Error 5.39
TGFB1
intraoperative
19.5 pg/ml
Standard Error 6.28
9.4 pg/ml
Standard Error 3.5
TGFB1
postoperative
35.17 pg/ml
Standard Error 8.8
12.9 pg/ml
Standard Error 2.65
TGFB1
preoperative
7.30 pg/ml
Standard Error 3.5
3.26 pg/ml
Standard Error 1.53
TGFB1
<45 yrs post op
16.76 pg/ml
Standard Error 11.37
4.89 pg/ml
Standard Error 0.48
TGFB1
>75kg postop
21.3 pg/ml
Standard Error 9.2
12.11 pg/ml
Standard Error 2.73

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: preoperative and postoperative

Population: female subjects preoperatively and postoperatively

to determine if electroacupuncture reduced hyperglycemia

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Acupuncture
n=8 Participants
acupuncture will be administered after induction for a period of 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute rest period and then resumption of acupuncture for 30 minutes. acupuncture: One half of subjects will receive a standardized acupuncture regiment
Sham/Placebo
n=9 Participants
no acupuncture will be done on this group of subjects. These subjects will be under general anesthesia and will not be aware that they are in control group. no acupuncture: placebo
Serum Insulin Level
preoperative
257.4 pg/ml
Standard Error 92.8
378.1 pg/ml
Standard Error 95.05
Serum Insulin Level
postoperative
311.2 pg/ml
Standard Error 50.59
325.4 pg/ml
Standard Error 84.46

Adverse Events

Acupuncture

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Sham/Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dennis Grech, MD

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Phone: 973 972-5007

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place