Electroacupuncture treatment for pancreatic cancer pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Pancreatic cancer is often accompanied by severe abdominal or back pain. It's the first study to evaluate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on pancreatic cancer pain. A randomized controlled trial compared electroacupuncture with control acupuncture using the placebo needle.

METHODS:

Sixty patients with pancreatic cancer pain were randomly assigned to the electroacupuncture group (n = 30) and the placebo control group (n = 30). Patients were treated on Jiaji (Ex-B2) points T8-T12 bilaterally for 30 min once a day for 3 days. Pain intensity was assessed with numerical rated scales (NRS) before the treatment (Baseline), after 3 treatments, and 2 days follow-up.

RESULTS:

Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. After 3 treatment, pain intensity on NRS decreased compared with Baseline (-1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.46 to -1.87) in the electroacupuncture group; there was little change (-0.13, 95% CI 0.08 to -0.35) in control group; the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Follow-up also found a significant reduction in pain intensity in the electroacupuncture group compared with the control group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Electroacupuncture was an effective treatment for relieving pancreatic cancer pain.

• Authors: Hao Chen, Tang-Yi Liu, Le Kuai, Ji Zhu, Cai-Jun Wu, Lu-Ming Liu
• Journal: Pancreatology : official journal of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) ... [et al.] (Pancreatology) 2013 Nov-Dec Vol. 13 Issue 6 Pg. 594-7 ISSN: 1424-3911 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 24280575 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Analgesics

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Disease Progression
• Electroacupuncture (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (secondary)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain Management
• Pain Measurement
• Pain, Intractable (etiology, therapy)
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (complications, pathology)
• Survival Analysis
• Young Adult