TEAS Timing for Gastrectomy Recovery (TEAS-TIME Trial)
China300 participantsStarted 2026-07
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) works to help people recover faster after laparoscopic surgery for stomach cancer. TEAS is a treatment that uses small electrical pulses through sticky pads on the skin. It does not use needles.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does TEAS help people pass gas (a sign that the digestive system is waking up) sooner after surgery?
Does TEAS help lower pain after surgery?
Does TEAS reduce the need for extra pain medication after surgery?
Researchers will compare three groups to see if TEAS works better when given before, during, and after surgery compared with only after surgery.
Group 1 receives TEAS before, during, and after surgery.
Group 2 receives a sham (inactive) treatment before and during surgery, and real TEAS after surgery.
Group 3 receives sham treatment at all time points.
All participants will receive the same standard pain relief and recovery care after surgery.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to one of the three groups
Receive TEAS or sham treatment for 30 minutes before surgery, during surgery, and for 30 minutes each day on the first 3 days after surgery
Rate their pain on a 0-10 scale at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery
Complete quality-of-life questionnaires before surgery, on day 4 after surgery, and 30 days after surgery
Have a follow-up visit or phone call 30 days after leaving the hospital
This study includes 300 adults aged 18 to 80 years who are scheduled to have laparoscopic surgery for stomach cancer at 13 hospitals in Shandong Province, China.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 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:
* Age 18 to 80 years, both sexes
* Endoscopically and radiographically confirmed resectable stage I-III gastric cancer (AJCC 8th edition)
* Scheduled to undergo laparoscopic radical gastrectomy
* Willing to sign the informed consent form and able to comply with all study procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
* American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status ≥ IV
* Clinical stage IV gastric cancer
* Severe hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, or cerebrovascular diseases, or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders that may affect compliance or safety assessment
* Participation in another clinical trial or receipt of any form of acupoint stimulation (acupuncture, electroacupuncture, TEAS, etc.) within 1 month prior to enrollment
* Continuous use of opioids for more than 3 months prior to enrollment, with a daily dose ≥ 30 mg oral morphine equivalent
* Implanted cardiac pacemaker or other electronic stimulation device, or skin infection/lesion at the stimulation site
* Pregnancy or lactation
* Emergency surgery due to bleeding, perforation, obstruction, etc.
* Planned epidural anesthesia for the surgery
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
1
Time to First Flatus After Surgery
Timeframe: Measured from the end of surgery up to hospital discharge (expected up to 7 days postoperatively)
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07714980
SponsorThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University