Efficacy of needleless transcutaneous electroacupuncture in synchronization with breathing for symptomatic idiopathic gastroparesis: A blinded and controlled acute treatment trial

• Published in: Neurogastroenterology and motility 2018-09, Vol.30 (9), p.e13361-n/a
• Main Authors: Song, G., Sun, Y., Bashashati, M., Quezada, A., Sigaroodi, S., Sarosiek, I., Chen, J. D. Z., McCallum, R. W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Diabetes mellitus; EKG; Electroacupuncture; electrogastrogram; gastroparesis; Nausea; Respiration; Synchronization; Vagus nerve
• ISSN: 1350-1925; 1365-2982
• DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13361

Background Needleless transcutaneous electroacupuncture (TEA) improves nausea and myoelectrical activity in diabetic gastroparesis (GP). Synchronized TEA (STEA), which combines synchronized breathing with TEA, is more potent than TEA in enhancing vagal activity in healthy subjects. Aims To investigate whether STEA improves symptoms, electrogastrogram (EGG) and vagal activity in idiopathic gastroparesis (IGP). Methods Eighteen IGP subjects underwent 2 randomized visits (sham at non‐acupoints or real STEA at acupoints) consisted of a 30‐minute baseline, an Ensure challenge to provoke nausea, followed by 60‐minute treatment with sham or real STEA, and 15‐minute observation period. Severity of nausea, EGG, and vagal activity (based on electrocardiogram and serum Pancreatic Polypeptide, PP) were recorded. Results In sham or STEA, the nausea scores of 2.7 ± 0.5 and 1.9 ± 0.5 at fasting baseline, respectively, increased to 5.9 ± 0.4 and 5.8 ± 0.3 during Ensure test (P