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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07187232

Effects of Acupressure on Physiological Indicators, Oxygen Demand and Length of Hospital Stay in Premature Infants With Pulmonary Infiltration

In 2020, 11.6% of newborns are delivered prematurely in Taiwan. Excessive sputum is a common symptom of respiratory complications in premature infants. Effective methods for reducing sputum secretion in premature infants need to be urgently explored.

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Key information

Conditions

PreTerm Neonate Pulmonary Complications

Age range

32 week and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Taiwan

Changhua, Taiwan

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Newborn ≤32 weeks of gestational age
  • X-ray reporting pulmonary infiltration requiring suctioning
  • Treated with O2 nasal cannula or High-flow nasal cannula

Exclusion criteria

  • Congenital pulmonary structural abnormalities
  • Muscular weakness
  • Heart disease, excluding Patent Ductus Arteriosus(PDA) and Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
  • Abnormal bleeding conditions
  • Chest tube placement
  • Compromised skin integrity at the acupressure sites

Treatment and study plan

massage acupoints

Behavioral

The massage acupoints involved Zusanli (ST36), Fenglong (ST40), Zhongfu (LU1), Tanzhong (CV17), and Feishu (BL13). Each acupoint was massaged for 2 minutes, totaling 10 minutes per session. The routine care included chest physiotherapy and sputum suction as needed every 3 hours (PRN, Q3H).

Routine Care

Behavioral

The routine care included chest physiotherapy and sputum suction as needed every 3 hours (PRN, Q3H).

Primary outcomes

  1. Frequency of sputum suction

    Time frame: The study outcomes were evaluated before and day 5, day 10, day 12 after the intervention.

    Suctioning frequency per day was obtained from nursing records throughout the intervention period and for the subsequent two days.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Physiological indicatores

    Time frame: These outcomes were recorded 2 days before the intervention, days 1-5 of the intervention, days 6-10 of the intervention, and 2 days after the intervention.

    Physiological indicators include heart rate、 respiratory rate、 oxygen saturation.

    Physiological indicators per day was obtained from nursing records throughout the intervention period and for the subsequent two days on physiological chart record sheets.

    • Heart Rate Description: Daily heart rate obtained from nursing records. Unit of measure: beats per minute (bpm). Measured instruments: Philips MX450 ECG Monitor.
    • Respiratory Rate Description: Daily respiratory rate obtained from nursing records. Unit of measure: breaths per minute. Measured instruments: Philips MX450 ECG Monitor.
    • Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂) Description: Daily oxygen saturation obtained from nursing records. Unit of measure: percentage (%). Measured instruments: Philips MX450 ECG Monitor.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Changhua Christian Hospital

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Sep 22, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 22, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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