Combined acupressure to reduce post-thoracotomy pain and improve lung volume
Official title: The Effects of Acupressure Combination on Post-Thoracotomy Pain and Lung Volume During Rest, Breathing-Coughing Exercises: A Randomized Controlled Study
Run by Dogus Universitesi · NCT07411417 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will try combined acupressure on patients after thoracotomy to see if it reduces postoperative pain and helps restore lung volume.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Dogus Universitesi Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | Chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 6, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 6, 2026 |
| Study ends | January 6, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | February 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07411417 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults who have had a first-time thoracotomy, are conscious and cooperative, classified ASA I–III, have a chest drain on ICU admission, BMI ≤ 30, and can communicate in Turkish are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are intubated, have significant psychiatric conditions or panic disorder, recent chemotherapy, BMI > 30, sensory impairments, intraoperative/postoperative complications, or cannot speak Turkish are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Adults who undergo posterolateral thoracotomy and meet enrollment criteria receive a standardized, manual acupressure protocol applied to selected acupuncture points while in the immediate postoperative period. Pain intensity, analgesic (opioid) use, and objective measures of lung volume and respiratory function are recorded at specified postoperative time points. The intervention is noninvasive and delivered at the bedside as an adjunct to routine postoperative care. Outcomes are compared to baseline and usual postoperative expectations to determine whether acupressure changes pain or respiratory recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, acupressure could lower postoperative pain and opioid needs while improving breathing and lung volumes after thoracotomy.
How similar studies have gone: Acupuncture and acupressure have shown some success in reducing postoperative pain and analgesic use in various surgical settings, but evidence specific to thoracotomy-related lung-volume outcomes is limited and mixed.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Underwent thoracotomy * Undergoing thoracic surgery for the first time * Classified as ASA (American Society of Anesthesiology) physical status I, II and III * Presence of a drain upon admission to the intensive care unit * Conscious, oriented, and cooperative * Provided verbal and written informed consent after receiving information about the study Exclusion Criteria: * Intubated * Persistent anxiety before the surgery * Diagnosed with panic disorder * Chemotherapy within the last 6 months * Diagnosed psychiatric illness or mental health problems * Presence of edema * Intraoperative or postoperative complications * Non-Turkish speaking, or presence of hearing or visual impairment * Body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 * Participation in another clinical trial during the study period
Where it's running
-
Özgül Aydemir
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Özgül Aydemir, Doctor
- Email: ozgul6761@gmail.com
- Phone: +905435326567
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.