TEAS in Liver Patients Needing Urgent Endoscopy for Bleeding Veins

Launched by BEIJING 302 HOSPITAL · Aug 3, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether a special, non-painful electrical therapy called TEAS can help patients with serious liver disease who have dangerous bleeding in their stomach or esophagus. These patients often need an urgent procedure called an endoscopy, where a thin tube with a camera is used to look inside the stomach and stop the bleeding. The study wants to find out if TEAS can make this emergency procedure easier to tolerate, help control the bleeding better, speed up recovery, and be safe to use.

People who might join this study are adults aged 18 to 80 who have liver disease with bleeding in the upper digestive tract and need an urgent endoscopy. During the trial, participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: one group will receive the real TEAS treatment (gentle electrical stimulation on specific spots on the hands and legs), another will have pads placed without electrical stimulation (to compare results), and the last group will have the usual procedure without any TEAS. Participants can expect their comfort during the procedure to be closely monitored, along with their heart rate, blood pressure, and how well the bleeding is controlled. The study also watches carefully for any side effects from the TEAS treatment or the procedure itself. This research could help improve care for people with serious liver-related bleeding in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• 1. Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patients aged 18-80 years with suspected or confirmed esophageal-gastric variceal bleeding (EGVB);
• • 2. Patients with confirmed cirrhosis (any etiology/Child-Pugh class) presenting with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
• 2. Exclusion Criteria:
• 1. Neuropsychiatric disorders preventing valid assessment:
• • Hepatic encephalopathy ≥Grade II Severe anxiety Cognitive impairment
• 2. High-risk physiological status:
• • ASA class \>III Hemodynamic instability (systolic BP \<90 mm Hg after resuscitation)
• 3. Contraindications for TEAS/emergency care:
• • Skin lesions at acupoints Electrical implants Allergies to TEAS electrodes/emergency medications
• • 4. Pregnant or lactating women;
• • 5. History of long-term alcohol/opioid abuse;
• • 6. Inability to provide informed consent;
• • 7. Prior TEAS experience (to maintain blinding integrity).
• 3. Dropout Criteria:
• 1. Serious TEAS/endoscopy-related adverse reactions:
• • Severe allergic reactions Hemodynamic collapse
• 2. Life-threatening deterioration during endoscopy:
• • Uncontrolled bleeding Respiratory failure Hepatic encephalopathy progression
• • 3. Principal investigator-identified safety risks (e.g., sepsis, acute liver failure);
• 4. Inability to complete protocols due to emergent complications:
• • Intubation Altered mental status ICU transfer
• • 5. Voluntary withdrawal by participant/legal representative.