Electroacupuncture to Assist Ventilator Weaning in Severe Stroke

Launched by THE SECOND AFFILIATED HOSPITAL, GUANGZHOU UNIVERSITY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE · Mar 24, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at whether electroacupuncture can help patients with severe strokes who are on ventilators to breathe on their own again. Electroacupuncture is a treatment that uses small electrical currents with needles placed at specific points on the body, which some studies suggest may aid recovery. The trial is currently recruiting participants aged between 18 and 75 years who have had a stroke within the last week and are receiving mechanical ventilation, which means they need help to breathe.

To be eligible for the study, participants must show certain signs of stroke severity and be able to give consent, either personally or through a family member. Unfortunately, individuals who are expected to need a ventilator for less than 24 hours, have been on one for more than 72 hours, or have certain medical conditions or recent surgeries cannot participate. If you join the trial, you will receive the electroacupuncture treatment as part of your care, and the researchers will closely monitor your progress to see how it affects your ability to breathe without the ventilator.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. age ≥ 18 years and ≤ 75 years ;
• • 2. within 7 days after the onset of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), confirmed by a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain;
• • 3. GCS on admission ≤ 12 or NIHSS on admission ≥ 11 or APACHEⅡ ≥ 15;
• • 4. received mechanical ventilation;
• • 5. written informed consent is able to be obtained directly from the patient or an appropriate surrogate, based on local ethics committee recommendations.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. expected to be ventilated for \< 24 h;
• • 2. already ventilated for \> 72 h;
• • 3. GCS \<5;
• • 4. with unstable vital signs and requiring the use of vasoactive agents;
• • 5. concomitant medical illness that would interfere with the outcome assessments and/or follow-up;
• • 6. had spinal cord injury above T8 level, or lower motor neuron impairment, or neuromuscular junction impairment，or chest wall deformities, or chest wall injuries within 6 months, or chest or abdominal surgery within 4 week, or were pregnant;
• • 7. had acute skin injury on the selected acupoints;
• • 8. currently participating in other investigational trials.