Table 1.
Characteristics of ongoing studies [ordered by study ID]
| Cooke 2014 | |
| Trial name or title | PC6 acupoint stimulation for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing cardiac surgery |
| Methods | 2-centred, double-blinded, 2-arm, parallel-group RCT |
| Participants | People undergoing primary cardiac surgery |
| Interventions | Group 1: Seaband wristband applied bilaterally to PC6 acupoint on arrival to ICU, covered by light opaque bandage for 36 hours Group 2: Sham Seaband wristband without stud applied to both wrists on arrival to ICU, covered by light opaque bandage for 36 hours |
| Outcomes | Nausea (0 – 6 h, 0 – 12 h, 0 – 24 h, 0 – 36 h), vomiting (0 – 6 h, 0 – 12 h, 0 – 24 h, 0 – 36 h), rescue antiemetic (0 – 36 h) |
| Starting date | February 2015 |
| Contact information | m.cooke@griffith.edu.au |
| Notes | Rescue antiemetic includes metoclopramide, ondansetron, dexamethasone, droperidol. The trial is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12614000589684) |
| Lv 2013 | |
| Trial name or title | PC6 acupoint stimulation for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing craniotomy |
| Methods | Single-centred, double-blinded, 5-arm, parallel-group RCT |
| Participants | People undergoing craniotomy |
| Interventions | Group 1: Ondansetron 8 mg IV before skin closure and PC6 acupuncture bilaterally for 30 min after regaining consciousness from general anaesthesia with stimulation every 10 min to keep de qi sensation Group 2: Ondansetron 8 mg IV before skin closure and sham PC6 acupuncture bilaterally for 30 min after regaining consciousness from general anaesthesia with no stimulation Group 3: Ondansetron 8 mg IV before skin closure and PC6 stimulation via active TENS electrodes bilaterally for 30 min after regaining consciousness from general anaesthesia with stimulation intensity and frequency set to when de qi sensation is felt Group 4: Ondansetron 8 mg IV before skin closure and PC6 stimulation via inactive TENS electrodes bilaterally for 30 min after regaining consciousness from general anaesthesia with no stimulation intensity and frequency Group 5: Ondansetron 8 mg IV before skin closure. |
| Outcomes | Nausea (0 – 24 h), vomiting (0 – 24 h), rescue antiemetic (metoclopramide) |
| Starting date | January 2013 |
| Contact information | zhenjiuhuaxi@163.com. |
| Notes | Protocol published in Trials 2013 May 28;14:153. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-14-153. This study is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-13003026 |
h = hours
ICU = Intensive care unit
IV = intravenous
PC6 = pericardium acupoint
RCT = randomized controlled trial
TENS = transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation