The Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Complications in Critically Ill Patients

The Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Complications in Critically Ill Patients: Multiple Centers a Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial

Introduction: Intensive care unit (ICU) is a special department in the health care facility. Although with high development of modern medicine nowadays, the average mortality rate in ICU is still around 7 to 20 %. There are a few tricky problems that intensivists and ICU nurses faced very often, including ICU delirium, arrhythmia and poor digestion problem that will all affect the mortality and morbidity rate of critical care patients. Methods: A randomized control trial will examine the effect of press tack acupuncture vs. press tack placebos. The patients will be randomly divided (1:1) into one of two groups. A total of 80 ICU patients will have to meet the following criteria: age 20-90, newly ICU admission(<48 hours), APACHE score <30, one or no inotropic medicine use, FiO2< 60%. Three interventions will be given in each group. The main outcomes will be the incidence of arrhythmia, delirium, and poor digestion and the severity of pain. We will also record ICU mortality, ICU stays and hospital days.

Introduction: Intensive care unit (ICU) is a special department in the health care facility. Although with high development of modern medicine nowadays, the average mortality rate in ICU is still around 7 to 20 %. There are a few tricky problems that intensivists and ICU nurses faced very often, including ICU delirium, arrhythmia and poor digestion problem that will all affect the mortality and morbidity rate of critical care patients. Methods: A randomized control trial will examine the effect of press tack acupuncture vs. press tack placebos. The patients will be randomly divided (1:1) into one of two groups. A total of 80 ICU patients will have to meet the following criteria: age 20-90, newly ICU admission(<48 hours), APACHE score <30, one or no inotropic medicine use, FiO2< 60%. Three interventions will be given in each group. The main outcomes will be the incidence of arrhythmia, delirium, and poor digestion and the severity of pain. We will also record ICU mortality, ICU stays and hospital days. Expected outcome: The study finding will help to determine the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for ICU complications. Other information: This study will be conducted in the ICU departments of China medical hospital and Asia University Hospital, Taichung city, Taiwan. The study is conducted on stable ICU patients and we don't anticipate any serious risk for adverse events following the intervention.

Patients in acupuncture group will receive traditional Chinese acupuncture using Press Tack Needle (PYONEX 0.20 x l.5mm made by Seirin Corporation). The following acupoints will be used: HT 7 (Shen Men), PC 6 (Nei Guan), LU 9 (Tai yuan), LI 4 (He Gu), SP 3 (Tai Bai,) ST 44 (Nei ting), LIV 3 (Tai Chong). The treatment will use bilateral acupuncture Interventions will be given on day 1, 3, and 5 after patient's enrolment.

Patients randomized to the control group will receive a press lack placebo (made by Seirin Corporation), which looks identical to press tack needles but, with no needle element. The point selection will be identical to the acupuncture group: HT 7 (Shen Men), PC 6 (Nei Guan), LU 9 (Tai yuan), L1 4 (He Gu), SP 3; (Tat Bai), ST 44 (Ne1 tmg), LIV 3 (Tat Chong). Interventions will be given on days 1, 3, and 5 after the patient's enrolment.

Patients enrolled will receive intervention in a form of either press tack acupuncture needles or press tack placebos. Three total intervention sessions will be taken place on day 1,3,5 from patient's enrolment. Needles/placebos skin withdrawal will be done 48 hours after treatment by an acupuncture doctor or by a trained ICU nurne. In cases when a patient will be transferred from the ICU, the 3 study interventions will be continued in the new ward.

4 or more points according to the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC)(0-8 scale, score of less than 4 points indicate no delirium, 4 or more indicate delirium) and a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score of: +l, +2, +3, +4 - 1, -2 (score meanings +1 - 4 = levels of agitation, -1-4= levels of sudation, 0 = normal mental state.

For pain the Numeric Rating scale will be applied in patients that are able to express their self. As well as the Behavioral pain scale. The Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) 0-8, will also be filled by the doctor and nurses along with the dose of fentanyl, hydromorphone methadone, morphine, and remifentanil and other analgesic medications.

the dose of Adenosine, calcium channel blockers, or beta-blocking agents or other arrhythmia drugs .

dose of fentanyl, hydromorphone methadone, morphine, and remifentanil and other analgesic medications.

addition to drug use (a daily dose of sedative drugs, muscle relaxant, or atypical antipsychotics IV Haloperidol Benzodiazepines, Precedex, Propofol and oral Quediapine)

patients who cannot digest with daily NG tube: drainage: more than 500ml per day or severe diarrhea more the 1000 ml per day

Overall Satisfaction of patient family will be measured by the European Family Satisfaction with Care in the Intensive Care Unit (EURO FS-ICU).

blinding questioner will ask the acupuncturist to which group he/she guessed he/she applied the intervention

Inclusion Criteria: Age 20--90 newly ICU admission (<48 hours) APACHE score <30 Less than 3 inotropic medicine use Fi02< 60%. Exclusion Criteria: • Coagulopathy: Prolong Prothrombin Time (PPT) activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) more than 4 times Thrombocytopenia - low platelet count Clinically unstable: receiving two or more inotropic agents or Fraction of Inspired Oxygen (Fi02) >60% Primary central nervous system disorder: stroke, traumatic brain injury, central nervous system infections, brain tumors, recent intracranial surgery Already under other traditional medicine intervention during hospitalization Skin damage of more than 20% of the body skin.