Key Finding
A randomized controlled trial is underway to determine whether perioperative electroacupuncture at ST36 and GV20 can reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly men undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, with neuroinflammatory biomarkers included as mechanistic endpoints.
After major surgery, some older adults experience a condition called postoperative delirium (POD) — a sudden state of confusion, disorientation, and difficulty concentrating that can seriously affect recovery. Elderly men undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (a minimally invasive surgery to remove the prostate) are especially at risk because of their age and other health conditions they may already have.
Researchers are now investigating whether electroacupuncture (EA) — a form of acupuncture that uses gentle electrical stimulation through the needles — can help prevent this type of post-surgical confusion. A clinical trial is underway involving 212 men aged 65 and older, divided into two groups: one receiving real electroacupuncture at two specific acupoints (Zusanli on the leg and Baihui on the top of the head), and another receiving a sham (fake) version that looks identical but has no real acupuncture effect.
Treatment is given starting 30 minutes before anesthesia and continues for 25 to 30 minutes. Researchers are tracking how many patients develop delirium in the first three days after surgery, how long it lasts, how severe it is, and whether it affects pain levels, opioid use, and bladder discomfort. They are also measuring brain inflammation markers in the blood to understand how electroacupuncture might protect the brain during surgery.
While the trial results are not yet available, the study is designed to fill an important gap in knowledge. If electroacupuncture proves effective, it could offer a safe, drug-free way to protect older surgical patients from one of the most distressing post-operative complications.
If you or a loved one is facing prostate surgery, speak with a licensed acupuncturist to explore whether electroacupuncture may be an appropriate part of your care plan.
This double-center, prospective, randomized, patient- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled trial (ChiCTR2500097337) is evaluating electroacupuncture (EA) as a perioperative intervention to reduce postoperative delirium (POD) incidence in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). A total of 212 participants are randomized 1:1 to EA or sham EA (SEA). The EA protocol targets ST36 (Zusanli) and GV20 (Baihui), administered 30 minutes prior to anesthesia induction for 25–30 minutes. Primary outcome is POD incidence assessed via the 3D-CAM over the first three postoperative days. Secondary outcomes include delirium duration and severity, subtype classification, VAS pain scores, opioid consumption, catheter-related bladder discomfort, adverse events, and plasma neuroinflammatory biomarkers. The proposed mechanism centers on EA's capacity to attenuate neuroinflammation and mitigate cerebral injury perioperatively. No efficacy data are yet available as this is a published protocol. Clinically, this trial addresses a significant evidence gap and may validate EA as a viable, non-pharmacological adjunct for cognitive protection in high-risk surgical populations.
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