---
title: Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Sleep After Thoracoscopic Surgery
nct_id: NCT04124679
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: NA
sponsor: Shengjing Hospital
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation
countries: China
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT04124679.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04124679"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2020-08-27
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:13:01.685Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Sleep After Thoracoscopic Surgery

**NCT ID:** [NCT04124679](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04124679)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 78
- **Lead Sponsor:** Shengjing Hospital
- **Conditions:** Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation, Thoracoscopic Surgery, Postoperative Sleep Quality
- **Start Date:** 2019-10-08
- **Completion Date:** 2020-07-31
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2020-08-27

## Brief Summary

General anesthesia is a medically induced state of low reactivity consciousness which is similar to natural sleep.Some studies found that general anesthesia as an independent risk factor could result in a desynchronization of the circadian time structure and cause postoperative sleep disorders characterized by reduced rapid eye movement (REM) and slow wave sleep (SWS),which have signiﬁcant deleterious impacts on postoperative outcomes, such as postoperative fatigue, severe anxiety and depression, emotional detachment and delirium, and even pain sensitivity or postoperative pain of patients.Acupuncture can regulate plant nerve activity by increasing slow-wave sleep time to improve sleep quality.The results of polysomnography monitoring showed that the sleep latency, total sleep time, awakening index and sleep quality were all significant improved after acupuncture treatment.And transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation（TAES） works by stimulating Shu yu acupoints, which is more convenient than the normal electric acupuncture. The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of TAES on sleep after thoracoscopic surgery

## Detailed Description

In TEAS group, an experienced acupuncturist performed 30 minutes of TEAS treatment at the HT7 (Shenmen) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints on bilateral side, which were identiﬁed in accordance with the TCM anatomic localizations on the first night before surgery by a stimulator (Hwato Electronic Acupuncture Treatment Instrument, model no.: SDZ-II; Suzhou Medical Appliances Co. Ltd, Suzhou, China). And after surgery, ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints were added for the effect of relieving postoperative complications. 30 minutes of TEAS treatment was also performed on bilateral side by an experienced acupuncturist at the Neiguan (PC6), HT7 (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints on the first three nights after surgery. The TEAS was standardized before each treatment and was set at 2/10 HZ, which has been documented as the most effective frequency. The optimal intensity is from 6 to 15mA, which was adjusted according to individual maximum tolerance to maintain a slight twitching of the regional muscles. Patients in the control group were attached the gel electrodes at the sham acupoints. The acupuncture points were to be stimulated by microcurrents generated by a special electrical device, which the patients may only experience a mild electric current sensation or nothing at all.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 75 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* ASA ( American Society of Anesthesiologists):I-II
* age for 18-75 years

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of central nervous system and mental illness
* use of sedatives or antidepressants
* infection or wound at the percutaneous acupuncture point
* unwilling to participate
```

## Arms

- **TAES group** (EXPERIMENTAL) — In TEAS group, an experienced acupuncturist performed 30 minutes of TEAS treatment at the HT7 (Shenmen) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints on bilateral side, which were identiﬁed in accordance with the TCM anatomic localizations on the first night before surgery by a stimulator (Hwato Electronic Acupuncture Treatment Instrument, model no.: SDZ-II; Suzhou Medical Appliances Co. Ltd, Suzhou, China). And after surgery, ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints were added for the effect of relieving postoperative complications. 30 minutes of TEAS treatment was also performed on bilateral side by an experienced acupuncturist at the Neiguan (PC6), HT7 (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints on the first three nights after surgery
- **Control group** (NO_INTERVENTION) — Patients in the control group were attached the gel electrodes at the sham acupoints

## Interventions

- **Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation** (OTHER) — patients received Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for 30 mins on the acupoints

## Primary Outcomes

- **sleep quality tested by sleep monitor of the second night before the operation** _(time frame: second night before the surgery)_ — using sleep monitor to test the sleep quality on second night before the operation, analyze sleep quality according to each percentage of sleep stage.
- **sleep quality tested by sleep monitor of the first night before the operation** _(time frame: the first night before surgery)_ — using sleep monitor to test the sleep quality on first night before the operation, analyze sleep quality according to each percentage of sleep stage..
- **sleep quality tested by sleep monitor of the first night after the operation** _(time frame: the first night after the operation)_ — using sleep monitor to test the sleep quality on the first night after the operation,analyze sleep quality according to each percentage of sleep stage.
- **sleep quality of the tested by sleep monitor on the third night after the operation** _(time frame: the third night after the operation)_ — using sleep monitor to test the sleep quality on the third night after the operation,analyze sleep quality according to each percentage of sleep stage.

## Secondary Outcomes

- **subjective sleep quality: Athens Insomnia Scale** _(time frame: one night before the operation and the first and third night after the operation)_

## Locations (1)

- Shengjing hospital of China Medical university, Shenyang, Liaoning, China

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.shengjing hospital of china medical university|shenyang|liaoning|china` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

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