CompletedNot Applicable

Acupuncture for Relief of Gag Reflex

Germany60 participantsStarted 2019-01-13

Plain-language summary

The aim of the study is to test whether stimulation of acupuncture points CV24 and P6 is better than placebo acupuncture in treatment of gagging in patients undergoing elective transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

Who can participate

Age range

30 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I to III scheduled for elective ambulatory transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) without sedation
. TEE time does not exceed 30 minutes
. Patients without previous opioid and psychotropic medication
. Patients aged between 30 and 65 years, able to use visual analogue scale 100 mm
. Patients who have given written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

. Current psychiatric disease
. Local skin infection at the sites of acupuncture
. Aged \< 30 or \> 65 years
. TEE time more than 30 min
. Patients who consumed opioid medication at least 6 months before surgery
. Patients with the history of: i) psychiatric disease; ii) insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; iii) radio- or chemotherapy; iv) peripheral polyneuropathy.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Incidence of gagging during probe insertion

Timeframe: 10 minutes after TEE probe insertion

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03821428

SponsorUniversity Medicine Greifswald

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2021-05-20

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Gagging During Transesophageal Echocardiography trials