Electroacupuncture for refractory acute emesis caused by chemotherapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Integrative Medicine
• Palliative Care

Background:

• Chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis (CINV) significantly impacts patient quality of life.
• Standard antiemetic regimens, including 5HT(3)-antagonists and dexamethasone, are not always effective for all patients.
• Refractory CINV necessitates exploring adjunct therapies to improve symptom management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture as an adjunct therapy for preventing anthracycline-based chemotherapy-related nausea and emesis.
• To evaluate electroacupuncture in patients whose nausea and vomiting were refractory to standard antiemetic combinations.

Main Methods:

• A study cohort included cancer patients experiencing refractory emesis after their first doxorubicin-based chemotherapy cycle.
• Electroacupuncture was administered during the second chemotherapy cycle.
• Patients were monitored for nausea grade and emetic episodes within 24 hours post-treatment.

Main Results:

• Out of 317 screened patients, 27 participated, with 26 (96.3%) showing significant reductions in nausea and vomiting.
• Complete response (no emetic episodes) was achieved in 37% of participants.
• Electroacupuncture was well-tolerated, with a median pain score of 3/10, and 92.6% found it acceptable and helpful.

Conclusions:

• Electroacupuncture serves as a well-tolerated and effective adjunct therapy for managing chemotherapy-related nausea and emesis.
• This approach offers a viable option for patients experiencing refractory symptoms despite standard antiemetic treatments.
• Further research can explore optimizing electroacupuncture protocols for CINV management.