Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation vs Metoclopramide for Moderate to Severe Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors' conclusion
In this study, wearable TEAS significantly outperformed metoclopramide for moderate to severe PONV, representing an effective nonpharmacological alternative that enhances postanesthesia recovery.
Study context
- Population
- Female patients aged 25 to 55 years scheduled for thyroidectomy or anterior cervical surgery under GA who developed moderate to severe postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (NRS ≥4), 4 hospitals in Shanghai and Tianjin, Chinaall completed
- Participants
- 232 patients
- Comparison
- Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) vs Control
- TEASn = 116
- Controln = 116reference
- Primary endpoint
- PONV remission rate following initial intervention (significant symptom relief, NRS ≤3)
- Follow-up
- 2 hours
Methodological detailsdouble-dummy, patient-blinded and observer-blinded, parallel-group, active-controlled, multicentre (4 hospitals), Non-responders (NRS ≥4) at 2 hours rerandomised to cross-intervention
- Double-dummy
- Patient-blinded and observer-blinded
- Parallel-group
- Active-controlled
- Multicentre (4 hospitals)
- Non-responders (NRS ≥4) at 2 hours rerandomised to cross-intervention
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
2-hour PONV remission rate
P < 0.001
Further findings
| Outcome | TEAS | Control | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-hour relapse rate | 12.2% (95% CI 7.0%–20.6%) | 56.3% (95% CI 44.1%–67.7%) | P < 0.001 |
Safety
- No adverse events reported
Original publication
Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation vs Metoclopramide for Moderate to Severe Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg. Published 1 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →