{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,10]],"date-time":"2025-09-10T21:33:05Z","timestamp":1757539985402,"version":"3.37.3"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]],"date-time":"2020-02-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1582502400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]],"date-time":"2020-02-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1582502400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100008903","name":"Ministry of Health and Welfare","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["MOHW106-CMAP-M-114-112106"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["MOHW106-CMAP-M-114-112106"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100008903","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Trials"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec>\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Acute abdomen is a common disease in the emergency department (ED) and usually results in huge medical expenditure. To relieve abdominal pain effectively and reduce bed occupancy rate in emergency rooms, electroacupuncture is a practical method in the treatment of abdominal pain.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n<jats:title>Methods\/design<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Five hundred patients will be randomly and evenly divided into experimental and control groups. Both groups should have their basic information taken and their bilateral acupuncture points ( Hegu (LI 4), Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST37), Xiajuxu (ST39), Taichong (LR3), and Taibai (SP3)) will be intervened by electroacupuncture or vaccaria Seeds, in this clinical study. Electroacupuncture has been introduced to this experiment as an auxiliary technique. The experimental group will receive real electroacupuncture, but the control group will receive a placebo electroacupuncture in which transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation will not be turned on. After the intervention, we will evaluate the difference in abdominal pain, the length of stay at the emergent observation ward, and the proportion of revisits with abdominal pain.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n<jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>In Taiwan, medical expenditure is increasing annually because of the higher bed occupancy caused by acute abdominal pain in the hospital. We expect that the combined treatment of electroacupuncture and modern medical treatment will not only reduce bed occupancy and the length of ED stay but also effectively decrease the rate of readmission and revisits by 72\u2009h. By means of electroacupuncture, the spiraling cost of health care can eventually be reduced.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n<jats:title>Trial registration<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" ext-link-type=\"uri\" xlink:href=\"https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT03199495?cond=Acute+Abdomen&amp;cntry=TW&amp;draw=2&amp;rank=2\">NCT03199495<\/jats:ext-link>. Registered on 27 June 2017.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s13063-020-4071-3","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]],"date-time":"2020-02-24T18:06:01Z","timestamp":1582567561000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Efficacy of electroacupuncture on acute abdomen emergency care: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"21","author":[{"given":"Yuan Ya","family":"Chang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chih Wen","family":"Chiu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chia Yun","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chin Fu","family":"Chang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tsung Chieh","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lun Chien","family":"Lo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chia Ying","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kai","family":"Chang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Po Wei","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chang Ju","family":"Hsieh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yu Jun","family":"Chang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8887-5757","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sung Yen","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"4071_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"406","DOI":"10.1067\/mem.2000.109446","volume":"36","author":"American College of Emergency Physicians","year":"2000","unstructured":"American College of Emergency Physicians. Clinical policy: critical issue for the initial evaluation and management of patients presenting with a chief complications of nontraumatic acute abdomen pain. Ann Emerg Med. 2000;36:406\u201315.","journal-title":"Ann Emerg Med"},{"key":"4071_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1016\/0735-6757(95)90204-X","volume":"13","author":"RD Powers","year":"1995","unstructured":"Powers RD, Guertler AT. Abdominal pain in the ED: stability and change over 20 years. Am J Emerg Med. 1995;13:301\u20133.","journal-title":"Am J Emerg Med"},{"key":"4071_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1620\/tjem.233.9","volume":"233","author":"A Murata","year":"2014","unstructured":"Murata A, Okamoto K, Mayumi T, Maramatsu K, Matsuda S. Age-related differences in outcomes and etiologies of acute abdominal pain based on a national administrative database. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2014;233:9\u201315.","journal-title":"Tohoku J Exp Med"},{"key":"4071_CR4","first-page":"1119","volume-title":"Digestive tract surgery, a text and atlas","author":"JS Thompson","year":"1996","unstructured":"Thompson JS. Intestinal obstruction, ileus and pseudoobstruction. In: Bell RH, Rikkers LF, Mulholland MW, editors. Digestive tract surgery, a text and atlas. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers; 1996. p. 1119\u201347."},{"key":"4071_CR5","first-page":"1159","volume-title":"Maingot\u2019s abdominal operations","author":"J Pickleman","year":"1997","unstructured":"Pickleman J. Small bowel obstruction. In: Zinner MJ, Schwartz SI, Ellis H, editors. Maingot\u2019s abdominal operations. 10th ed. London: Prentice Hall International Inc.; 1997. p. 1159\u201372.","edition":"10"},{"key":"4071_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1148\/radiol.2453060798","volume":"245","author":"DDT Maglinte","year":"2007","unstructured":"Maglinte DDT, Sandrasegaran K, Lappas JC, Chiorean M. CT enteroclysis. Radiology. 2007;245:661\u201371.","journal-title":"Radiology"},{"key":"4071_CR7","first-page":"885","volume-title":"Maingot\u2019s abdominal operations","author":"H Ellis","year":"1990","unstructured":"Ellis H. Acute intestinal obstruction. In: Schwartz SI, Ellis H, editors. Maingot\u2019s abdominal operations. 9th ed. London: Prentice Hall International Inc.; 1990. p. 885\u2013903.","edition":"9"},{"key":"4071_CR8","first-page":"487","volume-title":"Tintinalli\u2019s emergency medicine: a comprehensive study guide","author":"JE Tintinalli","year":"2004","unstructured":"Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS. Tintinalli\u2019s emergency medicine: a comprehensive study guide. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2004. p. 487\u2013505.","edition":"6"},{"key":"4071_CR9","first-page":"507","volume":"27","author":"CF Wu","year":"2008","unstructured":"Wu CF, Wu SC, Shih FY, Shiu MN. Exploring the factors related to length of stay in emergency departments. Taiwan J Public Health. 2008;27:507\u201318.","journal-title":"Taiwan J Public Health"},{"key":"4071_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"970","DOI":"10.1097\/00003246-199307000-00009","volume":"21","author":"RE Fromm","year":"1993","unstructured":"Fromm RE, Gibbs LR, McCallum WG, Niziol C, Babcock JC, Gueler AC, Levine RL. Critical care in the emergency department: a time-based study. Crit Care Med. 1993;21:970\u20136.","journal-title":"Crit Care Med"},{"key":"4071_CR11","volume-title":"TQIP Guidelines","author":"Joint Commission of Taiwan","year":"2009","unstructured":"Joint Commission of Taiwan. TQIP Guidelines. 2009."},{"key":"4071_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1016\/0735-6757(94)90135-X","volume":"12","author":"P Krochmal","year":"1994","unstructured":"Krochmal P, Riley TA. Increased health care costs associated with ED overcrowding. Am J Emerg Med. 1994;12:265\u20136.","journal-title":"Am J Emerg Med"},{"key":"4071_CR13","first-page":"237","volume":"12","author":"SC Liang","year":"2011","unstructured":"Liang SC, Tai MK, Chuang YH. An analysis of the characteristics of patients with prolonged stays in an emergency department. J Healthc Manag. 2011;12:237\u201347.","journal-title":"J Healthc Manag"},{"key":"4071_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"512","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jemermed.2008.03.039","volume":"38","author":"CL Wu","year":"2010","unstructured":"Wu CL, Wang FT, Chiang YC, Chiu YF, Lin TG, Fu LF, Tsai TL. Unplanned emergency department revisits within 72 hours to a secondary teaching referral hospital in Taiwan. J Emerg Med. 2010;38:512\u20137.","journal-title":"J Emerg Med"},{"key":"4071_CR15","first-page":"6","volume":"2","author":"SY Yeh","year":"2010","unstructured":"Yeh SY, Hu PM, Liao HC, Lin TY, Wang SK, Liaw SJ. Emergency department revisiting by patients over a three-day period in Taiwan: a population-based descriptive study. J Taiwan Coll Emerg Physician. 2010;2:6\u201313.","journal-title":"J Taiwan Coll Emerg Physician"},{"key":"4071_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1186\/1745-6215-12-87","volume":"12","author":"L Zhao","year":"2011","unstructured":"Zhao L, Zhang FW, Li Y, Wu X, Zheng H, Cheng LH, Liang FR. Adverse event sassociated with acupuncture: three multicentre randomized controlled trials of 1968 cases in China. Trials. 2011;12:87.","journal-title":"Trials"},{"key":"4071_CR17","unstructured":"WHO acupuncture indications. (2003) Retrieved May 19, 2017, from https:\/\/www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org\/who-official-position\/."},{"key":"4071_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2012.10.050","volume":"144","author":"SS Ng","year":"2013","unstructured":"Ng SS, Leung WW, Mak TW, Hon SS, Li JC, Wong CY, Tsoi KK, Lee JF. Electroacupuncture reduces duration of postoperative ileus after laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology. 2013;144:307\u201313.","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"4071_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Fang JF, Fang JQ, Shao XM, Du JY, Liang Y, Wang W, Liu Z. Electroacupuncture treatment partly promotes the recovery time of postoperative ileus by activating the vagus nerve but not regulating local inflammation. Sci Rep. 2017. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/srep39801.","DOI":"10.1038\/srep39801"},{"key":"4071_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"492","DOI":"10.1007\/s11926-008-0080-z","volume":"10","author":"JM DeSantana","year":"2008","unstructured":"DeSantana JM, Walsh DM, Vance C, Rakel BA, Sluka KA. Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Hyperalgesia and Pain. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2008;10:492\u20139.","journal-title":"Curr Rheumatol Rep"},{"key":"4071_CR21","volume-title":"The analysis of emergency medical resources utilization and patient revisits to the emergency department in Taiwan","author":"CC Lai","year":"2005","unstructured":"Lai CC. The analysis of emergency medical resources utilization and patient revisits to the emergency department in Taiwan. Taipei: Academic; National Taiwan University; 2005."},{"key":"4071_CR22","volume-title":"Exploring the factors influencing patients readmitted to emergency department for medical services-a study of northern Taiwan","author":"HH Tsao","year":"2004","unstructured":"Tsao HH. Exploring the factors influencing patients readmitted to emergency department for medical services-a study of northern Taiwan. Taipei: Academic; Taipei Medical University; 2004."},{"key":"4071_CR23","volume-title":"The analysis of factors associated with revisits to emergency department within three days in Taiwan","author":"SY Lin","year":"2015","unstructured":"Lin SY. The analysis of factors associated with revisits to emergency department within three days in Taiwan. Taipei: Academic; National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences; 2015."},{"key":"4071_CR24","unstructured":"Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan (R.O.C). (2017, January 10) Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan (R.O.C). Retrieved August 21, 2017, from https:\/\/dep.mohw.gov.tw\/DOS\/lp-1931-113.html."}],"container-title":["Trials"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13063-020-4071-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s13063-020-4071-3\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13063-020-4071-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,23]],"date-time":"2021-02-23T00:29:23Z","timestamp":1614040163000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s13063-020-4071-3"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]]},"references-count":24,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]}},"alternative-id":["4071"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13063-020-4071-3","relation":{},"ISSN":["1745-6215"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"1745-6215"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]]},"assertion":[{"value":"18 December 2017","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"13 January 2020","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"24 February 2020","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The study protocol (number 170207) was approved by the Institutional Review Board Committee of Changhua Christian Hospital, Taiwan. All participants have to provide written informed consent before the study.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"The authors have been informed of publication and gave their consent.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare that they have no competing interests.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"224"}}