Clinical trial NCT03391986: Acupuncture for Pain Management During Uterine Aspiration
Official title: Auricular Acupuncture as Adjunct for Pain Management During First Trimester Uterine Aspiration.
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Pain Acute
Acupuncture
Lead sponsor: Columbia University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Society of Family Planning
First posted: 2018-01-05
Enrollment: 153
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 55
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Participants will be randomized to either 1 - auricular acupuncture with pyonex needle, 2 - placebo adhesive, or 3 - routine care using a 1:1:1 ratio. The randomization scheme will use randomly permuted blocks with a block size of 6 or 9.
Primary purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Brief summary: The proposed study will be a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of auricular acupuncture as adjunct for pain management during abortion. Women seeking first trimester uterine aspiration procedure who enroll in the study will be randomized to receive: 1) auricular acupuncture using pyonex needles, 2) placebo using an adhesive, 3) or routine care. Both participants and the treating physician will be unaware of treatment assignment. The primary outcome will compare the maximum pain score as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) between the auricular acupuncture group and the routine care group. The secondary outcome will compare the maximum pain score between placebo group to the routine care group. The study will also investigate patient satisfaction.

Detailed description: Of the estimated 1.06 million abortions performed in the United States in 2011, approximately 91% occurred before 13 weeks gestation. Most first trimester abortions are performed in an outpatient center with a paracervical block as the only analgesic. Paracervical block is associated with improved pain control during dilation and aspiration however, women still experience moderate to severe pain. Moderate sedation and general anesthesia, minimize pain more than a paracervical block; however increased cost, regulatory constraints, side effects, health risks, and recovery time may limit abortion access.

Pain experienced during abortion results from a complex interaction of physical innervation pathways, psychological and social factors. Pain during abortion is also influenced by additional factors such as age, pregnancy history, and self-reported pre-procedure anxiety about abortion. Adequate pain management during suction aspiration might require interventions that influence mental and emotional states as well as physical pain.

Acupuncture affects perception of painful stimuli and improves anxiety. Peripheral stimulation of acupoints mobilizes central neuropeptides involved in the pathway of anxiety and stress. In auricular acupuncture, a technique of acupuncture, needles are placed in designated acupoints on the external ear in order to alleviate health conditions, in particular pain, in other parts of the body.

In a pilot study completed at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in 2016, patients seeking first trimester uterine aspiration were interested in the complementary medicine technique of auricular acupuncture as an adjunct to local anesthesia. Currently, the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture to control pain during a uterine suction aspiration is unknown.

Participants will be randomized to either auricular acupuncture with pyonex needle adhesives, placebo adhesive, or routine care using a 1:1:1 ratio. The randomization scheme will use randomly permuted blocks with a block size of 4 or 6. An investigator experienced with generating randomization sequences and not directly involved in the study will be responsible for creating the entire randomized schedule; first by defining the sequence of block sizes and second, by defining the assignments within each block. The division research office at CUMC will prepare opaque, sealed envelopes containing cards indicating whether a given patient has been randomized to receive either pyonex needles, placebo adhesive, or routine care. The allocation will remain concealed from the patient and abortion provider. The acupuncturist will open the sealed, opaque envelope immediately prior to the suction aspiration procedure and perform the intervention according to randomization assignment.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* English- or Spanish-speaking women
* Age 18 or older
* Seeking first trimester suction aspiration for undesired pregnancy, early pregnancy failure, retained products of conception, or molar pregnancy
* Intrauterine pregnancy with gestational age less than or equal to 12 weeks and 6 days
* Willingness to receive acupuncture and be randomized in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Allergy to adhesives
* Allergy to or cannot receive ibuprofen or 1% lidocaine
* Congenital anomalies of the ear including anotia and microtia

Primary outcomes:
measure: Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain) Score - Acupuncture Versus Routine Care
timeFrame: at the completion of the procedure (approximately 10 minutes later)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain) Score - Placebo Versus Routine Care
timeFrame: prior to the procedure (baseline), at the completion of the procedure (approximately 10 minutes later)
measure: Percentage of Patients Rated Good or Very Good on Satisfaction Survey in Overall Care - Acupuncture Versus Routine Care
timeFrame: at the completion of the procedure (approximately 5-10 minutes)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: New York
country: United States
facility: Columbia University Medical Center
state: New York
Study officials:
affiliation: Columbia University
name: Carolyn Westhoff, MD MSc
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
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