Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Sleep After Thoracoscopic Surgery
Condition: Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation; Thoracoscopic Surgery; Postoperative Sleep Quality
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      General anesthesia is a medically induced state of low reactivity consciousness which is
      similar to natural sleep.Some studies found that general anesthesia as an independent risk
      factor could result in a desynchronization of the circadian time structure and cause
      postoperative sleep disorders characterized by reduced rapid eye movement (REM) and slow wave
      sleep (SWS),which have signiﬁcant deleterious impacts on postoperative outcomes, such as
      postoperative fatigue, severe anxiety and depression, emotional detachment and delirium, and
      even pain sensitivity or postoperative pain of patients.Acupuncture can regulate plant nerve
      activity by increasing slow-wave sleep time to improve sleep quality.The results of
      polysomnography monitoring showed that the sleep latency, total sleep time, awakening index
      and sleep quality were all significant improved after acupuncture treatment.And
      transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation（TAES） works by stimulating Shu yu acupoints,
      which is more convenient than the normal electric acupuncture. The purpose of this paper is
      to study the effect of TAES on sleep after thoracoscopic surgery
    

Detailed description: 
      In TEAS group, an experienced acupuncturist performed 30 minutes of TEAS treatment at the HT7
      (Shenmen) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints on bilateral side, which were identiﬁed in accordance
      with the TCM anatomic localizations on the first night before surgery by a stimulator (Hwato
      Electronic Acupuncture Treatment Instrument, model no.: SDZ-II; Suzhou Medical Appliances Co.
      Ltd, Suzhou, China). And after surgery, ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints were added
      for the effect of relieving postoperative complications. 30 minutes of TEAS treatment was
      also performed on bilateral side by an experienced acupuncturist at the Neiguan (PC6), HT7
      (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints on the first three nights after surgery.
      The TEAS was standardized before each treatment and was set at 2/10 HZ, which has been
      documented as the most effective frequency. The optimal intensity is from 6 to 15mA, which
      was adjusted according to individual maximum tolerance to maintain a slight twitching of the
      regional muscles. Patients in the control group were attached the gel electrodes at the sham
      acupoints. The acupuncture points were to be stimulated by microcurrents generated by a
      special electrical device, which the patients may only experience a mild electric current
      sensation or nothing at all.
    

Intervention name(s): Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): patients received Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for 30 mins on the acupoints
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention