Acupoint Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Hospitalized COPD Patients With Severe Dyspnoea

Acupoint Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Hospitalized COPD Patients With Severe Dyspnoea

Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation at Dingchuan (EX-B1) in Hospitalized COPD Patients With Severe Dyspnoea: Patient and Assessor Blinded Randomized Placebo Control Trial

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents with a gradual reduction and little bitterness reversible airflow causing shortness of breath, chronic cough and sputum abnormal. Patients with COPD often suffer exacerbations of their symptoms, particularly dyspnea, causing hospital admissions. Recent studies have shown that acupuncture stimulation transcutánea (AcuTENS) Dingchuan point (EX-B1) could help reduce dyspnea in patients with COPD. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible utility of adding to the usual treatment stimulation AcuTENS in COPD patients admitted with severe dyspnea. Methodology: Patients who agree to participate will be randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group will receive a daily treatment, during the period of hospitalization, 45 minutes stimulation at acupuncture point AcuTENS Dingchuan (EX-B1), while the control group performed the same procedure with a device TENS simulated. The extent of dyspnea in both groups as well as the number of days of hospitalization and the number of drugs consumed.

Stimulation using a portable TENS electrostimulation device at Dingchuan point using a biphasic rectangular wave with a frequency of 2Hz and a pulse width of 200 ms. The stimulation will be achieved using the highest intensity tolerated by the patient without pain during 40 minuts. Once a day during 5 consecutive days.

Stimulation using a modified portable TENS electrostimulation device at Dingchuan point with no electrical output, even though the screen will light up and display the same data as in the unmodified device during 40 minuts. Patients in this group will be informed that, due to the frequency of stimulation, it is unlikely that they will feel the electric stimulation. Once a day during 5 consecutive days.

Stimulation of acupuncture point Dingchuan using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) instead of needles

Number of days from the time of admission until discharge will be collected from the patient's clinical history

Amount of drugs administered during the hospitalization will be determined by data collected from the patient's clinical history

At baseline, day 1, day 2, day 3 day 4 and day 5 of the study. (only if there is a medical indication for it)

At baseline, day 1, day 2, day 3 day 4 and day 5 of the study. (only if there is a medical indication for it)

At baseline, day 1, day 2, day 3 day 4 and day 5 of the study. (only if there is a medical indication for it)

At baseline, day 1, day 2, day 3 day 4 and day 5 of the study. (only if there is a medical indication for it)

Inclusion Criteria: Patients aged between 45 and 70 years, with a diagnose of COPD according to the GOLD guidelines. Patients with one episode of hospitalization for COPD exacerbation in the past year, but not more than three episodes. Smoking habit history of more than 10 packages-year. Patients able to correctly understand and answer the modified Borg scale. Patiens with an initial degree of dyspnoea with a score of at least 5 in the modified Borg scale. Patients recruited for the study during the first 48 hours of their hospitalization. Patients who accept to participate in the study and sign the informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with any contraindication for transcutaneous electrical stimulation (patiens with pacemakers, skin injury in the application area ...). Patiens with any cardiovascular, neurological or psychiatric disease that may affect the perception of dyspnea.