Different Acupoint Stimulation for Postoperative Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Primary Liver Cancer Patients

August 21, 2026 updated by: Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital

Application of Different Acupoint Stimulation Methods in the Prevention and Management of Postoperative Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Patients With Primary Liver Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Brief Summary (Plain Language) The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate and compare the effects of four different intervention measures on preventing and managing postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with primary liver cancer. The four measures include herbal acupoint application, transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation, the combination of the above two acupoint stimulation methods, and routine clinical nursing. This study aims to provide scientific evidence for the clinical application of acupoint stimulation therapies in postoperative rehabilitation of liver cancer patients.

The main research question of this study is whether acupoint stimulation interventions can effectively improve postoperative gastrointestinal recovery in primary liver cancer patients. The primary outcome measure is the time to first postoperative anal exhaust, which is a core indicator to reflect the recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery.

By comparing the differences in gastrointestinal recovery among the four groups, this trial will clarify the optimal acupoint intervention scheme to prevent and relieve postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in primary liver cancer patients, so as to improve patients' postoperative rehabilitation quality.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

132

Phase

  • 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

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients diagnosed with primary liver cancer scheduled for initial partial hepatectomy or laparoscopic partial hepatectomy.
  • Aged between 18 and 75 years old.
  • Clear consciousness and ability to communicate in writing.
  • Voluntary participation with signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients receiving concurrent chemotherapy.
  • Patients with adhesive plaster allergy or allergic constitution.
  • Patients with local skin damage, infection or dermatitis at acupoint sites.
  • Patients with cognitive dysfunction.
  • Patients complicated with preoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction or with a history of gastrointestinal surgery.
  • Patients undergoing associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS).
  • Patients transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery.
  • Patients with implanted cardiac pacemakers.

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Routine Care
Other: routine care
Patients receive standard postoperative routine nursing care only. No additional acupoint-related interventions are provided throughout the study period.
Experimental: Combined Intervention
Other: Combined Intervention
Initiated after stable vital signs on the surgery day. Receive transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation first, then herbal acupoint application. The specific operation standards are the same as the above two groups, performed once daily until the first anal exhaust.
Experimental: Acupoint Application
Other: Acupoint application
Intervention starts after the patient returns to the ward with stable vital signs on the surgery day. Herbal patches composed of Natrii Sulfas, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Fructus Aurantii Immaturus and Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis are applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37) and Hegu (LI4). Each application lasts 6 hours, once a day until the first anal exhaust. Relevant observations are recorded during the process.
Experimental: TAES
Device: TAES
Treatment begins on the surgery day when vital signs stabilize after returning to the ward. Electrodes are placed on bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37) and Hegu (LI4) for transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation with 2/100 Hz dense-disperse waves. Current ranges from 1 mA up to patient's maximum tolerance (no more than 10 mA), 30 minutes per session once daily. Treatment data is recorded accordingly.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Time to first postoperative flatus
Time Frame: Perioperative, from the end of surgery until the first postoperative flatus occurs
Perioperative, from the end of surgery until the first postoperative flatus occurs

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Time to first defecation
Time Frame: Perioperative
Perioperative
Incidence of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction
Time Frame: Within 7 days after surgery
Within 7 days after surgery

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Incidence and severity of postoperative intestinal obstruction
Time Frame: Within 14 days after surgery
Within 14 days after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yan Zhu, Fudan University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 21, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 21, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • B2026-222R

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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.

Subscribe