title: Electroacupuncture treatment for pancreatic cancer pain: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic cancer is often accompanied by severe abdominal or back pain. It's the first study to evaluate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on pancreatic cancer pain. A randomized controlled trial compared electroacupuncture with control acupuncture using the placebo needle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with pancreatic cancer pain were randomly assigned to the electroacupuncture group (n = 30) and the placebo control group (n = 30). Patients were treated on Jiaji (Ex-B2) points T8-T12 bilaterally for 30 min once a day for 3 days. Pain intensity was assessed with numerical rated scales (NRS) before the treatment (Baseline), after 3 treatments, and 2 days follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. After 3 treatment, pain intensity on NRS decreased compared with Baseline (-1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.46 to -1.87) in the electroacupuncture group; there was little change (-0.13, 95% CI 0.08 to -0.35) in control group; the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Follow-up also found a significant reduction in pain intensity in the electroacupuncture group compared with the control group (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroacupuncture was an effective treatment for relieving pancreatic cancer pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tang-Yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuai
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Cai-Jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lu-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Electroacupuncture; Pain; Pancreatic cancer