Clinical Study of Electroacupuncture for Postoperative Gastroparesis in Patients With Digestive Tract Tumors

April 20, 2026 updated by: Kong Fanming, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
This study aims to design and conduct a prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled, sham-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture for postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome (PGS) after digestive tract tumor surgery and systematically assess its clinical safety. By measuring gastrointestinal hormones, inflammatory factors, proteomics and metabolomics, we intend to explore the mechanism underlying the improvement of postoperative gastrointestinal motility by electroacupuncture. We will identify the optimal population for electroacupuncture in PGS by analyzing baseline characteristics and efficacy correlations, to provide evidence for individualized clinical intervention. The primary endpoint is the Daily Diary of Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI-DD) score at Day 14 of treatment. Finally, based on clinical data, this study will define the eligible population and optimal protocol of electroacupuncture for PGS, and further standardize and promote its clinical application in postoperative complications of cancer.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
76

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Mengchao Wang, M.M
  • Phone Number: 13292926115
  • Email: airk991@163.com

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Aged 18-65 years;
  2. History of digestive system tumor surgery;
  3. Meet the diagnostic criteria for PGS (postoperative gastroparesis syndrome);
  4. Voluntarily sign the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Gastroparesis caused by other diseases, such as diabetes mellitus or scleroderma;
  2. Use of medications that affect gastric smooth muscle function, such as morphine or atropine;
  3. Suspected or confirmed history of alcohol addiction or drug abuse, or concomitant cognitive impairment or severe mental illness that precludes cooperation with the clinical study;
  4. Severe organic diseases of vital organs, such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, or complicated by respiratory failure; renal insufficiency or glomerulosclerosis; or severe disturbances of fluid, electrolyte, or acid-base balance;
  5. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Electroacupuncture group
Behavioral: Electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture was applied to Zusanli,Shangjuxu， Tianshu, and Zhongwan. Needles were inserted perpendicularly into the skin to a depth of 20-40 mm. After achieving deqi (needling sensation) locally, the bilateral Zusanli and Shangjuxu points were connected to an electroacupuncture device. Continuous wave was used, with a frequency of 10 Hz and an intensity of 3 mA
Placebo Comparator: Sham electroacupuncture group
Behavioral: Sham electroacupuncture
Sham points corresponding to Zusanli, Shangjuxu， Tianshu, and Zhongwan were selected. Needles were inserted to a depth of approximately 10-15 mm without any manipulative techniques. Electrode connection and device settings were identical to those in the electroacupuncture group, but without skin penetration, electrical output, or needling manipulation to facilitate deqi.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Daily Diary of Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI-DD) score
Time Frame: Assessment time points include before treatment, on day 7 and day 14 of treatment, as well as follow-ups on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after treatment.
The GCSI-DD is a daily assessment tool used to evaluate the severity of core gastroparesis symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, early satiety, and postprandial fullness. It serves as a key indicator for determining the efficacy of electroacupuncture in alleviating postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome. Assessment time points include before treatment, on day 7 and day 14 of treatment, as well as follow-ups on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after treatment.
Assessment time points include before treatment, on day 7 and day 14 of treatment, as well as follow-ups on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after treatment.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 14, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 11, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 20, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 20, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • TYLL2025[K]122

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings