Electroacupuncture for acute postoperative pain during coughing after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316698
• Publication Date: 2025-03-26T17:25:07Z
• Authors: Dan-Tong Zhang; Guang-Xia Shi; Jin-Ying Jia; Feng-Wei Tan; Yu Qi; Wei Liang; Zhi-Jun Zhao; Ping Yuan; Ya Gao; Guo-Chao Zhang; Xue-Hui Liu; Jing-Wen Yang; Li-Qiong Wang; Xiao Wang; Na-Na Yang; Jian-Feng Tu; Cun-Zhi Liu
• Keywords: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Background Despite the use of multimodal analgesia regimens following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), acute postoperative pain persists. Electroacupuncture (EA) may alleviate VATS; however, current evidence remains insufficient. Objectives This trial will assess feasibility and efficacy EA as an adjunctive treatment compared with sham electroacupuncture (SA) for managing during coughing after VATS. Study design methods In this pilot randomized controlled trial, 60 patients non-small-cell lung cancer who undergo VATS be randomly assigned to either or SA group in a 1:1 ratio. Patients receive standard care combined four sessions within 72 h surgery. The primary outcome average score coughing, measured using numeric rating scale Secondary outcomes include daily scores at rest, while mobilizing; incidence chronic post-surgical pain; quality life; cough symptom score; analgesic consumption. All adverse events recorded detail. Discussion study determine whether can reduce Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov ITMCTR2024000170 ( http://itmctr.ccebtcm.org.cn/zh-CN/Home/ProjectView?pid=f1a344f7-7e06-4665-ad9d-0917d588eba6 ).