Electroacupuncture plus dolasetron to prevent nausea and vomiting after thoracoscopic lung surgery
Official title: Electroacupuncture Combined With 5-HT3 Receptor Inhibitor for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in High-risk Patients Undergoing Thoracoscopic Surgery for Lung Cancer
Run by Shanghai Chest Hospital · NCT07515027 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether adding electroacupuncture to standard anti-nausea medicines (dolasetron and dexamethasone) reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in high-risk adults undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lung surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 204 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Shanghai Chest Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Shanghai) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 7, 2026 |
| Main results expected | November 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07515027 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18 years) scheduled for elective VATS lung resection who are high-risk for PONV (Apfel score ≥3), expected to receive postoperative opioid analgesia, and who meet ASA I–III and other eligibility criteria are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with low PONV risk (Apfel <3), pregnant or lactating women, those allergic to study medications or acupuncture, long-term opioid users, or those converted to open surgery are unlikely to benefit.
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 prospective, randomized, sham-controlled, blinded trial enrolling adults at high risk for PONV (Apfel score ≥3) undergoing elective video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lung resection. Participants will be randomized to two perioperative sessions of electroacupuncture or sham electroacupuncture while all receive prophylactic dolasetron and dexamethasone. The primary outcome is the incidence of PONV within 24 hours after surgery, with secondary outcomes including PON, POV, PONV at multiple time points up to 48 hours, and nausea severity by VAS. Safety and adverse events related to acupuncture and antiemetic therapy will also be recorded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, combining electroacupuncture with standard antiemetics could reduce how often and how badly patients experience nausea and vomiting after VATS, improving comfort and recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Prior clinical trials and meta-analyses suggest acupuncture and electroacupuncture can reduce PONV in some surgical populations, but high-quality sham-controlled data specifically in VATS patients are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years; * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III; * Body mass index (BMI) 18-30 kg/m²; * Scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy, segmentectomy, or wedge resection; * Expected to receive postoperative opioid analgesia, with an Apfel risk score ≥ 3; * Normal pulmonary function, without severe cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal abnormalities; * No infection around the acupuncture sites; * Voluntary written informed consent provided by the subject. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal abnormalities, or poor pulmonary function; * Subjects with cognitive dysfunction or psychological disorders; * History of previous esophageal or gastric surgery; * Hypersensitivity to acupuncture or any study medications; * Severe infection or history of surgery around the acupuncture sites; * Pregnant or lactating women; * Long-term opioid use; * Conversion to open surgery; * Acupuncture treatment received within 1 month prior to enrollment.
Where it's running
-
Shanghai Chest Hospital
Shanghai, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Deputy Chief Physician
- Email: caixiaoyue2007@163.com
- Phone: +86 18017321631
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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.