Effect of Percutaneous Acupoint Electrical Stimulation on Delirium

Effect of Percutaneous Acupoint Electrical Stimulation on Delirium After Thoracoscopic Pneumonectomy

This study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial that aims to observe the impact of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) on plasma TK/MMP3 in a randomized controlled setting. The intervention group received percutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation, whereas the control group underwent conventional treatment. The primary objective is to enhance the management of postoperative delirium, specifically focusing on the occurrence and severity of delirium following thoracoscopic pulmonary resection. Additionally, various perioperative inflammatory markers, cognitive function, recovery quality, pain levels, anxiety, sleep patterns, postoperative complications, and overall hospital stay duration were monitored to elucidate the mechanisms through which percutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation improves postoperative delirium.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) is a treatment method that combines acupuncture point theory of traditional Chinese medicine with physical electrical stimulation techniques. It achieves the purpose of acupoint stimulation by applying a weak current to a specific part. Compared with traditional acupuncture, TEAS has the advantages of non-invasiveness, safety, portability and adjustability. Intraoperative acupoint electrical stimulation has no effect on operation and monitoring.

This multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial aims to investigate the impact of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) on postoperative delirium following thoracoscopic pulmonary resection. The study design involves the randomized allocation of participants into two groups: an intervention group receiving percutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation and a control group undergoing standard postoperative care.

The intervention protocol includes the precise selection of acupoints for TEAS application, parameters for electrical stimulation, frequency of treatments, and duration of intervention sessions. Patients in the control group will receive conventional postoperative management without TEAS.

Outcome measures will assess plasma TK/MMP3 levels, incidence and severity of postoperative delirium, perioperative inflammatory markers, cognitive function, pain levels, anxiety, sleep patterns, postoperative complications, recovery quality, and hospital stay duration. Statistical analysis will employ appropriate methods to evaluate the effectiveness of TEAS in managing postoperative delirium.

Overall, this clinical trial seeks to contribute to the understanding of how TEAS may improve postoperative delirium management and patient outcomes following thoracoscopic pulmonary resection. The Detailed Description provides a comprehensive overview of the study protocol without duplicating information presented elsewhere in the document.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Voluntary participation in the study;
• Age ≥ 18 years;
• Patients scheduled for thoracoscopic lung resection surgery;
• ASA grade I-III.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of severe central nervous system diseases, psychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment, intellectual disability, or Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≤23;
• History of opioid addiction, long-term use of analgesic drugs, or psychotropic drugs;
• Severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases;
• Severe liver and kidney dysfunction: Child-Pugh grade B, C patients, patients requiring regular dialysis, etc.;
• Pregnant or postpartum women;
• Patients with language communication barriers;
• Deemed unsuitable for participation by the researchers.