Acupuncture to speed stomach emptying after partial gastrectomy

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, parallel-controlled trial enrolling 176 patients with delayed gastric emptying after partial gastrectomy. Participants are randomized 1:1 to receive either real acupuncture or sham acupuncture at participating hospitals in Shandong Province. The primary outcome is shortening the duration of delayed gastric emptying, and secondary outcomes include resolution of gastroparesis symptoms measured by the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index and monitoring of adverse events. All interventions and follow-up are conducted according to an approved protocol to evaluate both efficacy and safety.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 18-80 years, regardless of sex.
2. Patients who have undergone partial gastrectomy.
3. Patients presenting with postoperative gastroparesis symptoms, confirmed by imaging or gastric emptying scintigraphy, and clinically diagnosed with gastroparesis.
4. No severe cardiac, hepatic, renal, or coagulation dysfunction.
5. No participation in other interventional clinical trials within the past month.
6. Able to provide written informed consent and comply with the treatment and follow-up procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with severe cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, hepatic or renal failure, or coagulation disorders.
2. Patients who develop serious postoperative complications after partial gastrectomy, such as anastomotic leakage, gastrointestinal bleeding, or severe infections, or conditions that may affect the assessment of gastric motility, such as ascites or intestinal obstruction.
3. Patients with a known allergy to acupuncture or with skin damage, infection, or severe scarring at the needle insertion sites that would prevent proper acupoint selection or needling.
4. Patients with diagnosed psychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment, or those unable to cooperate with treatment procedures, symptom assessment, or follow-up.
5. Patients who have used medications that may significantly affect gastric motility within the past week and cannot discontinue their use.
6. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or individuals with other special physiological conditions that may make them unsuitable for participation in acupuncture research.

Where it's running

• Qilu hospital
  Jinan, Shandong, China Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: zhibo Yan, PhD
• Email: 201362006567@sdu.edu.cn
• Phone: 86＋18560085166

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.