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TEAS Timing for Gastrectomy Recovery (TEAS-TIME Trial)
Sponsor: The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) works to help people recover faster after laparoscopic surgery for stomach cancer. TEAS is a treatment that uses small electrical pulses through sticky pads on the skin. It does not use needles. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does TEAS help people pass gas (a sign that the digestive system is waking up) sooner after surgery? Does TEAS help lower pain after surgery? Does TEAS reduce the need for extra pain medication after surgery? Researchers will compare three groups to see if TEAS works better when given before, during, and after surgery compared with only after surgery. Group 1 receives TEAS before, during, and after surgery. Group 2 receives a sham (inactive) treatment before and during surgery, and real TEAS after surgery. Group 3 receives sham treatment at all time points. All participants will receive the same standard pain relief and recovery care after surgery. Participants will: Be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to one of the three groups Receive TEAS or sham treatment for 30 minutes before surgery, during surgery, and for 30 minutes each day on the first 3 days after surgery Rate their pain on a 0-10 scale at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery Complete quality-of-life questionnaires before surgery, on day 4 after surgery, and 30 days after surgery Have a follow-up visit or phone call 30 days after leaving the hospital This study includes 300 adults aged 18 to 80 years who are scheduled to have laparoscopic surgery for stomach cancer at 13 hospitals in Shandong Province, China.
Official title: Effect of Perioperative vs Postoperative-Only Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Gastrointestinal Recovery and Pain Control After Laparoscopic Radical Gastrectomy: A Multicenter, Three-Arm, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 80 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
300
Start Date
2026-07
Completion Date
2028-08
Last Updated
2026-07-20
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation
Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) using the Hwato SDZ-V electronic acupuncture device (Suzhou Medical Appliance Factory Co., Ltd., China). Four bilateral acupoints are stimulated: Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36), and Shangjuxu (ST37), following WHO standard locations. Stimulation parameters: dense-disperse wave (2 Hz alternating with 100 Hz, 5s/10s duty cycle, pulse width 0.2 ms ± 30%). Intensity is individually titrated to the maximal tolerable threshold using a dual-threshold calibration method.
Sham Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation
Sham TEAS using the same Hwato SDZ-V device with identical appearance, indicator lights, and audible signals. The output leads are internally disconnected to deliver no electrical current. The operator performs the same procedural steps, including simulated dial adjustments, to maintain participant blinding.
Locations (13)
Dongying People's Hospital
Dongying, Shandong, China
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital
Qingdao, Shandong, China
Qingdao Municipal Hospital
Qingdao, Shandong, China
The Third People's Hospital of Qingdao
Qingdao, Shandong, China
Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Qingdao, Shandong, China
Peking University People's Hospital Qingdao
Qingdao, Shandong, China
Qingdao Chengyang District People's Hospital
Qingdao, Shandong, China
The People's Hospital of Jimo, Qingdao
Qingdao, Shandong, China
The People's Hospital of Rizhao
Rizhao, Shandong, China
Weifang People's Hospital
Weifang, Shandong, China
Weihai Municipal Hospital
Weihai, Shandong, China
Weihai Central Hospital
Weihai, Shandong, China
Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital
Yantai, Shandong, China