This randomized controlled trial looked at adults scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. The researchers tested whether transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation could prevent perioperative hypothermia. Participants received stimulation at predefined acupoints starting 30 minutes before anesthesia induction and continuing until the end of surgery. The control group received sham stimulation. The primary outcome measured was the incidence of perioperative hypothermia, defined as a core temperature drop. The study followed patients until the end of surgery to see if the treatment made a difference. No adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, or tolerability issues were reported in the available data. The main reason to be careful is that evidence from randomized controlled trials on this specific topic remains limited. Readers should understand that while the results are promising, more research is needed before this becomes a standard recommendation for all patients undergoing this type of surgery.
Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation may reduce perioperative hypothermia in adults undergoing elective VATSTEAS May Reduce Hypothermia Risk During Elective Thoracic Surgery
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Key Takeaway
Note that evidence from randomized controlled trials remains limited regarding TEAS for perioperative hypothermia.
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on perioperative hypothermia. The study population consisted of adults scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) under general anesthesia. The sample size was not reported. The setting was not reported. Funding or conflicts of interest were not reported.
The intervention involved TEAS applied at predefined acupoints starting 30 min before anesthesia induction and continuing until the end of surgery. The comparator was sham stimulation. The primary outcome was the incidence of perioperative hypothermia, defined as a core temperature. The follow-up period extended until the end of surgery. Specific results for the primary outcome were not reported in the provided data.
Safety and tolerability data were not reported. Discontinuations were not reported. Serious adverse events were not reported. Adverse events were not reported. The study limitations include that evidence from randomized controlled trials remains limited. Practice relevance was not reported. The certainty note was not reported.
What this means for you:
Limited trial data suggests TEAS may help prevent hypothermia during elective thoracic surgery, but more research is needed. View Original Abstract ↓
BackgroundPerioperative hypothermia is common during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that may modulate thermoregulation; however, evidence from randomized controlled trials remains limited. This study evaluated whether TEAS prevents perioperative hypothermia in patients undergoing VATS.MethodsAdults scheduled for elective VATS under general anesthesia were randomized (1:1) to receive TEAS at predefined acupoints from 30 min before anesthesia induction until the end of surgery, or sham stimulation. The primary outcome was the incidence of perioperative hypothermia, defined as a core temperature
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