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Ear-Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Body Acupuncture for Gut Motility in Elderly ICU Patients

1 ottobre 2026 aggiornato da: Qian Zhang, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University

Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Combined With Body Acupuncture for Gut-Brain Axis Modulation and Improved Gastrointestinal Motility in Elderly Critically Ill Patients

This study aims to investigate whether acupuncture, specifically a combination of body acupuncture and ear vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), can improve gastrointestinal function in critically ill elderly patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Gastrointestinal motility problems, such as delayed stomach emptying and constipation, are common in elderly ICU patients and can interfere with feeding, increase infection risk, and worsen outcomes. This research will test if adding acupuncture to standard care helps patients tolerate tube feeding (enteral nutrition) faster, reduces the need for intravenous nutrition, and improves overall recovery. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: standard care alone, standard care plus body acupuncture, or standard care plus both body acupuncture and ear vagus nerve stimulation. The study will compare the time it takes to achieve target feeding goals, changes in gastrointestinal function scores, and other clinical outcomes. This single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial will enroll 60 elderly patients from the Geriatric ICU of Jiangsu Province Hospital and aims to provide evidence for integrating traditional Chinese medicine into critical care practice.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Non ancora reclutamento

Condizioni

Intervento / Trattamento

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

60

Fase

  • Non applicabile

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Contatto studio

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

65 anni e precedenti (Adulto più anziano)

Accetta volontari sani

No

Sessi ammissibili allo studio

Tutto

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age ≥ 65 years.
  2. Critically ill patients admitted to the ICU with APACHE II score ≥ 15.
  3. NRS 2002 score ≥ 3 at ICU admission, indicating risk of malnutrition and requiring nutritional support.
  4. Presence of gastrointestinal dysfunction or at risk, with AGI grade I-II.
  5. Condition considered reversible.
  6. Written informed consent obtained from the participant or legal representative before any study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. ICU length of stay less than 7 days.
  2. Presence of severe gastrointestinal disease with contraindications to enteral nutrition and inability to receive conventional medications via the enteral route, such as acute gastrointestinal bleeding, mechanical intestinal obstruction, post-abdominal surgery, or abdominal compartment syndrome.
  3. Skin lesions at the acupuncture sites that are not suitable for acupuncture treatment.
  4. Advanced malignancy with significantly shortened life expectancy.
  5. Participation in another clinical trial.
  6. The treating clinician determines that the intervention is not in the patient's best interest.

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Terapia di supporto
  • Assegnazione: Randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Separare

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Comparatore attivo: Standard Care Group

Standard Care Group

Standard ICU care including hemodynamic management, enteral nutrition support per protocol (energy target: 25 kcal/kg ideal body weight/day; protein target: 1.3 g/kg ideal body weight/day), and management of feeding complications such as diarrhea, abdominal distension, and gastric retention. Enteral nutrition is initiated within 24-48 hours of ICU admission.

Comparatore attivo: Body Acupuncture Group

Participants receive standard ICU care plus body acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture is performed daily by a licensed acupuncturist with 10 years of experience. Needles are inserted at acupoints including CV12, CV10, ST36, PC6, and others, retained for 30 minutes per session. The intervention continues from ICU admission until ICU discharge, death, or discontinuation of nutritional support.

Standard ICU care including hemodynamic management, enteral nutrition support per protocol (energy target: 25 kcal/kg ideal body weight/day; protein target: 1.3 g/kg ideal body weight/day), and management of feeding complications such as diarrhea, abdominal distension, and gastric retention. Enteral nutrition is initiated within 24-48 hours of ICU admission.

Acupuncture at body acupoints including CV13 (Shangwan), CV12 (Zhongwan), CV10 (Xiawan), ST21 (Liangmen), ST25 (Tianshu), SP15 (Daheng), CV4 (Guanyuan), CV6 (Qihai), CV7 (Yinjiao), LI4 (Hegu), TE6 (Zhigou), ST36 (Zusanli), ST37 (Shangjuxu), ST41 (Jiexi), and LR3 (Taichong). Sterile disposable needles (0.25mm × 40mm) are inserted 1-1.5 cun to achieve deqi sensation, retained for 30 minutes per session, once daily.

Sperimentale: Combined Auricular VNS and Body Acupuncture Group

Participants receive standard ICU care, body acupuncture (as described in Arm 2), and additional transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS). A medium-frequency electrical stimulator is applied to the cymba concha region of the ear (25 Hz, 0-2 mA, 30 minutes per session, once daily). The intervention continues from ICU admission until ICU discharge, death, or discontinuation of nutritional support.

Standard ICU care including hemodynamic management, enteral nutrition support per protocol (energy target: 25 kcal/kg ideal body weight/day; protein target: 1.3 g/kg ideal body weight/day), and management of feeding complications such as diarrhea, abdominal distension, and gastric retention. Enteral nutrition is initiated within 24-48 hours of ICU admission.

Acupuncture at body acupoints including CV13 (Shangwan), CV12 (Zhongwan), CV10 (Xiawan), ST21 (Liangmen), ST25 (Tianshu), SP15 (Daheng), CV4 (Guanyuan), CV6 (Qihai), CV7 (Yinjiao), LI4 (Hegu), TE6 (Zhigou), ST36 (Zusanli), ST37 (Shangjuxu), ST41 (Jiexi), and LR3 (Taichong). Sterile disposable needles (0.25mm × 40mm) are inserted 1-1.5 cun to achieve deqi sensation, retained for 30 minutes per session, once daily.

Medium-frequency electrical stimulator (SNM-FDCM01, Ningbo Maida Medical Instruments Co., Ltd.) applied to the cymba concha region of the ear. Parameters: active period 2 seconds, rest period 3 seconds; pulse width 0.5 ms; frequency 25 Hz; intensity 0-2 mA (maximum tolerable by patient); 30 minutes per session, once daily.

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Lasso di tempo
Time to Achieve Enteral Nutrition Target
Lasso di tempo: From ICU admission up to 28 days
From ICU admission up to 28 days

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change in Acute Gastrointestinal Injury (AGI) Grade
Lasso di tempo: Baseline Day3 Day 7
Baseline Day3 Day 7
Change in Feeding Intolerance Score (FIS)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline Day3 Day 7

Minimum Value: 0 (The lowest score, where all evaluation items are scored as 0).

Maximum Value: 15. The score is calculated by summing three items (abdominal distension and/or pain + nausea and/or vomiting + diarrhea). Since each item has a maximum score of 5, the theoretical maximum total score is 5 + 5 + 5 = 15.

Interpretation (Higher vs. Worse): Higher scores indicate a worse outcome. A higher score represents more severe feeding intolerance (e.g., severe abdominal distension, frequent vomiting, massive diarrhea), requiring stricter clinical management. According to the notes in the image:

0-2 points: Continue enteral nutrition, increase or maintain the original rate, and provide symptomatic treatment.

3-4 points: Continue enteral nutrition, slow down the rate, and reassess after 2 hours.

≥5 points: Suspend enteral nutrition and take corresponding management measures.

Baseline Day3 Day 7
Change in Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Score (GIDS)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline Day3 Day 7

Minimum Value: 0 (0 - No risk: No symptoms, or any of the listed conditions present at the time of oral intake).

Maximum Value: 4 (4 - Life-threatening: One of the listed conditions present).

Interpretation (Higher vs. Worse): Higher scores indicate a worse outcome. Higher scores represent more severe gastrointestinal dysfunction and a higher risk of mortality. The specific grades are as follows:

0 (No risk): No symptoms, or any of the following conditions present at the time of oral intake (e.g., absent bowel sounds, vomiting, gastric residual volume >200ml, etc.).

  1. (Increased risk): Two of the following symptoms are present (e.g., no oral intake, absent bowel sounds, vomiting, gastric residual volume >200ml, etc.).
  2. (Gastrointestinal dysfunction): Three or more symptoms scored as 1, OR two of the following symptoms (severe diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding requiring transfusion, intra-abdominal pressure >20 mmHg).
  3. (Gastrointestinal failure): Three or more of the followin
Baseline Day3 Day 7
Change in Intra-Abdominal Pressure (IAP)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline Day3 Day 7
Baseline Day3 Day 7
Change in Plasma Levels of Intestinal Injury Biomarkers (I-FABP)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline Day 7

ng/mL

Baseline Day 7
Change in Plasma Levels of Intestinal Injury Biomarkers (DAO)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Day 7

ng/mL

Baseline and Day 7
Proportion of Participants Requiring Supplemental Parenteral Nutrition (SPN)
Lasso di tempo: Day 7
Day 7
Incidence of Secondary Intestinal Infections
Lasso di tempo: Up to 28 days from ICU admission
Up to 28 days from ICU admission
Duration of Mechanical Ventilation
Lasso di tempo: Up to 28 days from ICU admission
Up to 28 days from ICU admission
Length of ICU Stay
Lasso di tempo: Up to 28 days from ICU admission
Up to 28 days from ICU admission
28-Day Mortality
Lasso di tempo: Day 28
Day 28
Change in Plasma Levels of Citrulline
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Day 7

μmol/L

Baseline and Day 7

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Stimato)

1 settembre 2026

Completamento primario (Stimato)

1 dicembre 2027

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

1 dicembre 2028

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

20 settembre 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

1 ottobre 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

6 ottobre 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

6 ottobre 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

1 ottobre 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 agosto 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

  • 2026-SR-295

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?

SÌ

Descrizione del piano IPD

The de-identified individual participant data (IPD) that underlie the results reported in this article, including data dictionaries, will be made available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal. Data will be available beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication. Proposals should be directed to dongjiaxin1861@163.com. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

Periodo di condivisione IPD

Data will be available beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication.

Criteri di accesso alla condivisione IPD

De-identified individual participant data and supporting information will be made available to researchers whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee. Requests must be directed to the corresponding author (dongjiaxin1861@163.com) and requestors must sign a data access agreement.

Tipo di informazioni di supporto alla condivisione IPD

  • STUDIO_PROTOCOLLO
  • LINFA

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .