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Intradermal thumbtack needling as an adjunctive therapy for sepsis-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: Background and aim: Sepsis-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction (GID) is common in critically ill patients, leading to impaired motility, feeding intolerance, and poor outcomes. Evidence for acupuncture-related neuromodulation remains limited. Intradermal thumbtack needling (ITN), a minimally invasive technique that provides continuous low-intensity stimulation, may serve as an adjunct in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but its clinical effects remain unexamined. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of ITN in patients with sepsis-induced GID. Experimental procedure: Sixty patients with sepsis-induced GID were randomly assigned to the conventional treatment (CT) group or ITN group. Both groups received standard therapies (ventilation, vasopressors, anti-infectives, fluid resuscitation, gastrointestinal mucosal protection, and prokinetics). The ITN group also received ITN at auricular and body acupoints for 7 days. Gastrointestinal function indicators (acute gastrointestinal injury [AGI] grade, gastric antrum motility index [MI], abdominal circumference, intra-abdominal pressure [IAP]), inflammatory markers, and severity scores were assessed before and after treatment. 28-day mortality, ICU length of stay and adverse events were assessed after treatment. Results and conclusion: > 0.05). 28-day mortality and ICU length of stay did not differ significantly between groups. No ITN-related adverse events occurred. ITN may improve gastrointestinal parameters in sepsis-induced GID patients, but it did not significantly affect gastric motility, systemic inflammation, or global severity scores. Larger, controlled trials are needed to confirm its potential role as adjunctive therapy.

Source: Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2026.09.004

Authors: Tingting Liu, Jiatian Ma, Ying Qiu, Qiao Xiao, Zhiling Sun

Institution: Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond