Effect of Acupressure on Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair

NCT07787871 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: MEDIPOL-GETAT-2026-001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effect of acupressure on postoperative pain following laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair. A total of 90 participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: standard postoperative care alone (control group), true acupressure plus standard care, or sham acupressure plus standard care. Acupressure will be applied at postoperative hours 1, 4, and 8 using the bilateral P6 (Neiguan), LI4 (Hegu), ST36 (Zusanli), and SP6 (Sanyinjiao) acupoints. The sham group will receive pressure at non-acupuncture points. The primary outcome is postoperative pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes include analgesic consumption, postoperative nausea and vomiting, time to mobilization, patient satisfaction, and postoperative complications.

Conditions

Postoperative Pain; Inguinal Hernia

Keywords

Acupressure; Sham Acupressure; TEP; Laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal Hernia Repair; Inguinal Hernia; Postoperative Pain; Randomized Controlled Trial; Visual Analog Scale; Complementary Medicine

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Postoperative Pain Intensity Assessed by Visual Analog Scale

  Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. VAS scores will be recorded at postoperative hours 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 and compared among the study groups.

  At postoperative hours 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Rescue Analgesic Requirement

  During the first 24 postoperative hours

• Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

  During the first 24 postoperative hours

• Early Postoperative Complications

  During the first 24 postoperative hours

• Rescue Antiemetic Requirement

  During the first 24 postoperative hours

Study Arms (3)

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants receive standard postoperative care without acupressure.

Acupressure

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive standard postoperative care plus true acupressure at bilateral P6, LI4, ST36, and SP6 points for 3 minutes per point at postoperative 1, 4, and 8 hours.

Procedure: Acupressure

Sham Acupressure

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants receive standard postoperative care plus sham acupressure at non-acupoint locations with the same duration and schedule as the acupressure group.

Procedure: Sham Acupressure

Interventions

Acupressure PROCEDURE

Bilateral acupressure is applied at P6, LI4, ST36, and SP6 for 3 minutes per point at postoperative 1, 4, and 8 hours.

Acupressure

Sham Acupressure PROCEDURE

Manual pressure is applied to non-acupuncture points using the same duration and schedule as the active acupressure intervention.

Sham Acupressure

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 to 75 years
• Diagnosis of a unilateral primary inguinal hernia
• Scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I to III without an anticipated need for postoperative intensive care
• Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Bilateral inguinal hernia
• Recurrent inguinal hernia
• Strangulated inguinal hernia
• History of open lower abdominal surgery
• Skin infection, wound, or surgical scar at any of the acupressure application sites
• ASA physical status III with an anticipated need for postoperative intensive care
• ASA physical status IV
• Participation in another clinical study within the previous 4 weeks
• Receipt of acupressure or a similar complementary treatment within the previous 4 weeks
• Refusal or inability to provide written informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medipol University: lead
• Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital

Istanbul, Istanbul, 34752, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative; Hernia, Inguinal

Interventions

Acupressure

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Hernia, Abdominal; Hernia; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Central Study Contacts

AHMET S YAZ, MD

CONTACT

+902165783000; ahmet.yaz@std.medipol.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants and outcome assessors will be blinded to treatment allocation. The practitioner delivering the intervention cannot be blinded.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups: control, acupressure, or sham acupressure.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 23, 2026
• First Posted: August 26, 2026
• Study Start: June 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2026
• Last Updated: August 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)