Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Remotely Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: An Update on Safety and Tolerability
Published on: October 7, 2017
Investigating press tack needle treatment for delirium in critically ill patients: A double-blind randomized
Pei-Yu Kao1, Eyal Ben-Arie2, Tzu-Hsuan Wei3
1Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Surgical Intensive Care Unit, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Introduction:
Intensive care unit (ICU) delirium, a common manifestation of acute encephalopathy, affects a significant proportion of critically ill patients and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. This pilot study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of press tack needles-a minimally invasive form of acupuncture-applied to standardized acupuncture points for the management of ICU delirium.
Methods:
A double-blind, randomized sham-controlled pilot trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of press tack needle treatment for ICU delirium. Delirium was diagnosed using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) with a score ≥4 prior to enrollment. Participants received three interventions during the first week after inclusion. The outcomes included the number of delirium-free days (ICDSC) and agitation level, as assessed by the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS).
Results:
A total of 24 patients were enrolled, with 11 allocated to the intervention group and 13 to the sham control group. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. During the first week, the intervention group demonstrated a significantly higher median number of delirium-free days compared to the sham control group (5 [IQR 4-5] vs. 2 [IQR 0-4], p = 0.025). The reduction in delirium persisted throughout the 4-week follow-up. No significant differences were observed in delirium subtypes between groups.
Conclusion:
This pilot study suggests that press tack needle acupuncture may be an effective adjunctive intervention for reducing ICU delirium. Further large-scale studies are warranted to validate these findings.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04312893, registered on March 18, 2020.
