Laser Acupuncture Against Nausea in Children

Laser Acupuncture to Alleviate Nausea and Vomiting in Children and Adolescents Receiving Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy. A Prospective, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

To investigate whether nonthermal low level laser acupuncture has beneficial effects on nausea and vomiting in children receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy for a malignant solid tumor. In a previous crossover study comparing needle acupuncture to no intervention in an otherwise similar setting we found beneficial effects, but this trial was not even single-blinded and therefore the results are questionable. The hypothesis is that active laser acupuncture is more effective than placebo laser acupuncture concerning episodes of retching/vomiting (primary outcome measure) and rescue antiemetic medication (secondary outcome measure) with a fix standard antiemetic medication

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 0-17,
• Highly emetogenic chemotherapy with at least 4 similar courses of chemotherapy concerning applied drugs (equivalent dosages)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age older than 17 years,
• Participation in another clinical trial on supportive care