Acupuncture for ventilator-dependent patients at a hospital-based respiratory care center: A randomized controlled trial

doi:10.1016/j.imr.2023.100997

. 2023 Dec;12(4):100997.

doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2023.100997. Epub 2023 Oct 17.

Acupuncture for ventilator-dependent patients at a hospital-based respiratory care center: A randomized controlled trial

Jia-Ming Chen¹, Wan-Li Chiang¹, Bin-Chuan Ji^{2

3}, Ruei-Jhe Jhang¹, Pei-Hsin Chen^{1

4}, Ya-Lun Li¹, Che-Ju Chang¹, Sung-Yen Huang¹, Tsung-Chieh Lee¹, Chia-Yun Chen¹, Ching-Hsiung Lin^{2

3}, Sheng-Hao Lin^{2

3

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chinese Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
² Department of Chest Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
³ Respiratory Care Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Chinese Medicine, Yunlin Christian Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
⁵ Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁶ Graduate Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.

PMID: 38033650
PMCID: PMC10685379
DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2023.100997

Acupuncture for ventilator-dependent patients at a hospital-based respiratory care center: A randomized controlled trial

Jia-Ming Chen et al. Integr Med Res. 2023 Dec.

. 2023 Dec;12(4):100997.

doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2023.100997. Epub 2023 Oct 17.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chinese Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
² Department of Chest Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
³ Respiratory Care Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Chinese Medicine, Yunlin Christian Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
⁵ Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁶ Graduate Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.

PMID: 38033650
PMCID: PMC10685379
DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2023.100997

Abstract

Background: In intensive care units, mechanical ventilation is an important therapy to help patients with dyspnea. However, long-term ventilator dependence would consume huge medical resources and increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of the acupuncture combined with western medical care on ventilator parameters in ventilator-dependent patients.

Methods: In this clinical trial, 80 ventilator-dependent patients aged 20 to 80 years old were randomly assigned to acupuncture group and control group in the respiratory care center (RCC) of Changhua Christian Hospital. Besides regular medical care and therapy, participants in the acupuncture group received acupuncture therapy at the same 17 acu-points for 20 minutes once a day, a total of 12 sessions. The ventilator parameters were recorded to evaluate the respiratory efficiency for all participants. The primary outcome was rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI), and secondary outcomes were respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV) and ventilation per minute (MV).

Results: Though there was no significant difference in the parameter between the acupuncture group and the control group, we found the trend of decreasing RSBI in the acupuncture group. In subgroup analyses, the mean of RSBI significantly decreased 16.02 (with the SD in 60.84) in acupuncture group, while it increased 17.84 (with the SD in 39.38) in control group (p=0.036) after 12 sessions.

Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment can improve breathing ability of patients with respirator dependence in respiratory care center.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Dyspnea; RSBI; Ventilator parameters; Ventilator-dependent.

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Figures

Fig 1 — **Fig. 1**
Flow diagram of enrollment, randomization, and treatment.

Fig 2 — **Fig. 2**
The cumulative incidence rate of weaning (A) total analysis, and (B) subgroup analysis In subgroup analysis of cumulative incidence rate of weaning, we analyzed the participants with at least 6 times treatment or observation, and we excluded those cases whose ISS score was higher than 16 or was ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction when admitted to hospital, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, septic shock, or failure of weaning many times during admission.

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References

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[1] Needham D.M., Bronskill S.E., Calinawan J.R., Sibbald W.J., Pronovost P.J., Laupacis A. Projected incidence of mechanical ventilation in Ontario to 2026: Preparing for the aging baby boomers. Crit Care Med. 2005;33(3):574–579. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000155992.21174.31. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Needham D.M., Bronskill S.E., Calinawan J.R., Sibbald W.J., Pronovost P.J., Laupacis A. Projected incidence of mechanical ventilation in Ontario to 2026: Preparing for the aging baby boomers. Crit Care Med. 2005;33(3):574–579. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000155992.21174.31. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Burns S.M., Clochesy J.M., Hanneman S.K., Ingersoll G.E., Knebel A.R., Shekleton M.E. Weaning from long-term mechanical ventilation. Am J Crit Care. 1995;4(1):4–22. - PubMed

[4] Burns S.M., Clochesy J.M., Hanneman S.K., Ingersoll G.E., Knebel A.R., Shekleton M.E. Weaning from long-term mechanical ventilation. Am J Crit Care. 1995;4(1):4–22. - PubMed

[5] Dries D.J. Weaning from mechanical ventilation. J Trauma. 1997;43(2):372–384. - PubMed

[6] Dries D.J. Weaning from mechanical ventilation. J Trauma. 1997;43(2):372–384. - PubMed

[7] Mancebo J. Weaning from mechanical ventilation. Eur Respir J. 1996;9(9):1923–1931. - PubMed

[8] Mancebo J. Weaning from mechanical ventilation. Eur Respir J. 1996;9(9):1923–1931. - PubMed

[9] Esteban A., Alia I., Ibanez J., Benito S., Tobin M.J. Modes of mechanical ventilation and weaning. A national survey of Spanish Hospitals. The Spanish lung failure collaborative group. Chest. 1994;106(4):1188–1193. doi: 10.1378/chest.106.4.1188. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Esteban A., Alia I., Ibanez J., Benito S., Tobin M.J. Modes of mechanical ventilation and weaning. A national survey of Spanish Hospitals. The Spanish lung failure collaborative group. Chest. 1994;106(4):1188–1193. doi: 10.1378/chest.106.4.1188. - DOI - PubMed

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Acupuncture for ventilator-dependent patients at a hospital-based respiratory care center: A randomized controlled trial

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Acupuncture for ventilator-dependent patients at a hospital-based respiratory care center: A randomized controlled trial

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