Ear pressure points plus pain meds for faster kidney stone pain relief
Auricular Acupoint Embedding as Adjunctive Therapy to NSAIDs for Accelerated Relief of Renal Colic in Urolithiasis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study will see if adding ear acupressure to usual NSAID pain medicine helps adults with kidney stone pain feel better faster.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 116 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Changhai Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality) |
| Trial ID | NCT06978816 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized emergency-department study compares real auricular acupoint embedding (tiny needles on three ear points) plus a standard NSAID injection (ketorolac) to a sham ear procedure plus the same NSAID. Adults with confirmed kidney stones and moderate-to-severe pain will rate their pain on a 0–10 scale repeatedly over the first 60 minutes after treatment while vital signs are monitored. The trial also records any side effects to compare safety between real and sham procedures. The procedure is delivered at a single center during emergency care.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults about 18–75 years old with kidney stones confirmed by CT or ultrasound, experiencing moderate-to-severe renal colic, who have not taken analgesics recently and have no allergy to NSAIDs.
Not a fit: People allergic to NSAIDs, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, those who took pain medicine within the past hours, or those with severe medical conditions or prior severe acupuncture reactions are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could speed pain relief in the emergency room and reduce the need for additional pain medication.
How similar studies have performed: Some small trials and reviews report modest pain benefit from acupuncture or acupressure in acute pain, but auricular acupressure specifically for renal colic is not well-established.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age between 15 and 75 years (inclusive) 2. Diagnosis of urinary tract stones confirmed by CT or ultrasound 3. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score ≥ 4 (indicating moderate to severe renal colic) 4. No severe cardiac, hepatic, or pulmonary dysfunction, and no coagulation disorders. 5. No psychiatric disorders Exclusion Criteria: 1. Use of any analgesic medication within the past 6 hours. 2. Allergy to NSAIDs, morphine, or anisodamine (scopolamine derivatives) 3. History of asthma, urticaria, congestive heart failure, acute ischemic heart disease, acute cerebrovascular disease, or increased intracranial pressure 4. Active peptic ulcer, pyloric obstruction, or intestinal obstruction 5. Severe adverse reactions to acupuncture in the past 6. Pregnancy or lactation 7. Unwillingness to sign informed consent
Where this trial is running
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality
- shanghai Changhai Hospitai — Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Bowen Yu, bachelor
- Email: yubowen19960609@qq.com
- Phone: +8613125430609
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.