NCT04850196

Brief Summary

Elderly patients are often considered as a high-risk population for major abdominal surgery due to reduced functional reserve and increased comorbidities. Previous study reported that about 40 and 10% of elderly (60 yr and older) patients suffered from postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) 7 days and 3 months, respectively, after noncardiac surgery. POCD is a central nervous system complication after anesthesia and an operation, whose risk factors include age, education level, the operation (time, type, and mode), anesthesia (methods, drugs, and time) and postoperative analgesia. In the study of Su X et al, elderly patients are also more prone to develop postoperative sleep disturbances after surgery with prolonged sleep latencies, fragmented sleep, decreased sleep efficiency and abnormally sleep stages. Increasing evidence showed that sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances after surgery could promote β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) accumulation by simultaneously upregulating Aβ synthesis and interfering with Aβ clearance. This insoluble Aβ aggregates to form brain extracellular senile plaques, which are one of the neuropathological hallmarks of numerous postoperative cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease(AD), and can be measured by amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging through injecting 18F-florbetapir, a novel imaging agent that binds with high affinity (Kd 3.1 nM+0.7) to β-amyloid peptide fibrils in brain amyloid plaques, to the patients.Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is a new acupuncture therapy developed by combining transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in European and American countries and traditional Chinese acupuncture. TEAS treat disease through inputting a pulse current of different frequencies, intensities, and waveforms via electrode paste adhering to the skin. Previous studies proved that TEAS has been successfully applied in many different procedures through stimulating different acupoints such as reducing postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and improving postoperative sleep quality. However, whether TEAS could affect Aβ deposition by improving postoperative sleep quality and thus affect the development of long-term cognitive impairment is still unclear. The aim of our study is to conduct the TEAS intervention to elderly patients who received laparoscopic abdominal surgery, and then to examine its effect on postoperative sleep quality, postoperative cognition and complications. In this study, we utilized 18F-florbetapir imaging to assess the relationships between postoperative sleep disturbances and POCD and brain Aβ burden through measuring by PET imaging.

Trial Health

35
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
100

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2022

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 27, 2021

Completed
24 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 20, 2021

Completed
1.6 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 1, 2022

Completed
1.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 30, 2024

Completed
11 days until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 10, 2024

Completed
Last Updated

April 28, 2022

Status Verified

April 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

1.3 years

First QC Date

March 27, 2021

Last Update Submit

April 27, 2022

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (10)

  • Sleep Quality Assessment

    use the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS): the total AIS scores range from 0 to 24 points with ≤ 4 indicating no combined with insomnia at night; 4-6 indicating suspicious insomnia at night; ≥ 6 points indicating a diagnosis of insomnia at night

    on the first night before surgery (Preop 1)

  • Sleep Quality Assessment

    use the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS): the total AIS scores range from 0 to 24 points with ≤ 4 indicating no combined with insomnia at night; 4-6 indicating suspicious insomnia at night; ≥ 6 points indicating a diagnosis of insomnia at night

    the third night after surgery (POD 3).

  • Sleep Quality Assessment

    use the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS): the total AIS scores range from 0 to 24 points with ≤ 4 indicating no combined with insomnia at night; 4-6 indicating suspicious insomnia at night; ≥ 6 points indicating a diagnosis of insomnia at night

    the first week after surgery (POD 1W).

  • Sleep Quality Assessment

    use the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS): the total AIS scores range from 0 to 24 points with ≤ 4 indicating no combined with insomnia at night; 4-6 indicating suspicious insomnia at night; ≥ 6 points indicating a diagnosis of insomnia at night

    the sixth months after surgery (POD 6M).

  • Cognitive Assessment

    MMSE is a 30-point questionnaire that is widely used to evaluate the severity of cognitive impairment in individuals with cognitive disorders. Score cutoffs for the MMSE are as follows: greater than or equal to 24 for normal cognition, between 19 and 23 for MCI, between 10 and 18 for moderate cognitive impairment, and less than or equal to 9 for severe cognitive impairment.

    on the first night before surgery (Preop 1)

  • Cognitive Assessment

    MMSE is a 30-point questionnaire that is widely used to evaluate the severity of cognitive impairment in individuals with cognitive disorders. Score cutoffs for the MMSE are as follows: greater than or equal to 24 for normal cognition, between 19 and 23 for MCI, between 10 and 18 for moderate cognitive impairment, and less than or equal to 9 for severe cognitive impairment.

    the third night after surgery (POD 3).

  • Cognitive Assessment

    MMSE is a 30-point questionnaire that is widely used to evaluate the severity of cognitive impairment in individuals with cognitive disorders. Score cutoffs for the MMSE are as follows: greater than or equal to 24 for normal cognition, between 19 and 23 for MCI, between 10 and 18 for moderate cognitive impairment, and less than or equal to 9 for severe cognitive impairment.

    the first week after surgery ( POD 1W)

  • Cognitive Assessment

    MMSE is a 30-point questionnaire that is widely used to evaluate the severity of cognitive impairment in individuals with cognitive disorders. Score cutoffs for the MMSE are as follows: greater than or equal to 24 for normal cognition, between 19 and 23 for MCI, between 10 and 18 for moderate cognitive impairment, and less than or equal to 9 for severe cognitive impairment.

    the sixth month after surgery (POD 6M).

  • Aβburden PET imaging

    participants were injected intravenously with fluorine 18-labeled florbetaben tracer (Neuraceq; Piramel Imaging), and imaging was performed approximately 60 minutes later as per a standard protocol using PET-computed tomography.

    Aβ PET imaging was performed on the first week after surgery ( POD 1W)

  • Aβburden PET imaging

    participants were injected intravenously with fluorine 18-labeled florbetaben tracer (Neuraceq; Piramel Imaging), and imaging was performed approximately 60 minutes later as per a standard protocol using PET-computed tomography.

    Aβ PET imaging was performed on the sixth month after surgery (POD 6M).

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Postoperative pain assessment

    24 hours after surgery

  • Postoperative adverse effects assessment

    24 hours after surgery

Study Arms (2)

TEAS group

EXPERIMENTAL

TEAS treatment was performed for 30 mins before anesthesia on bilateral side by an experienced acupuncturist at the Neiguan (PC6), HT7 (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints And TEAS treatment for 30 mins was also performed on bilateral side by an experienced acupuncturist at the Neiguan (PC6), HT7 (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints at the end of surgery as well as on the each night before sleeping after surgery until discharged from the hospital

Device: TEAS

Control group

SHAM COMPARATOR

Patients in the Control group received electrical stimulation at a non-acupoint which was located 2 cm interior to the bilateral Neiguan (PC6), HT7 (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints similar to patients in group TEAS.

Other: control group

Interventions

TEASDEVICE

TEAS treatment was performed for 30 mins before anesthesia on bilateral side by an experienced acupuncturist at the Neiguan (PC6), HT7 (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints . And TEAS treatment for 30 mins was also performed on bilateral side by an experienced acupuncturist at the Neiguan (PC6), HT7 (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints at the end of surgery as well as on the each night before sleeping after surgery until discharged from the hospital

TEAS group

Patients in the Control group received electrical stimulation at a non-acupoint which was located 2 cm interior to the bilateral Neiguan (PC6), HT7 (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli) and LI4 (Hegu) acupoints similar to patients in group TEAS

Control group

Eligibility Criteria

Age65 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsOlder Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • patient's age was 65 yr or older
  • patient was scheduled to undergo elective major laparoscopic abdominal surgery (e.g., gastrointestinal and gynecologic surgery).
  • the surgery was expected to last 2h or longer.

You may not qualify if:

  • severe diseases in cardiovascular, respiratory, liver, kidney, or central nervous systems and having a life span of less than 3 months;
  • a mini-mental status examination score (MMSE) of less than 23;
  • a history of dementia or psychiatric illness;
  • current use of sedatives, antidepressants or corticosteroids;
  • alcoholism and drug dependence;
  • difficulty with follow-up or poor compliance;
  • patients with preoperative sleep disturbances;
  • patients with sleep apnea or moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS);
  • patients with severe visual or hearing impairment or who were unable to communicate.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Postoperative Cognitive Complications

Interventions

Control Groups

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Postoperative ComplicationsPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsCognitive DysfunctionCognition DisordersNeurocognitive DisordersMental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Epidemiologic Research DesignEpidemiologic MethodsInvestigative TechniquesResearch DesignMethods

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
principal investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 27, 2021

First Posted

April 20, 2021

Study Start

December 1, 2022

Primary Completion

March 30, 2024

Study Completion

April 10, 2024

Last Updated

April 28, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share