Effect of low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation on nausea and vomiting in NSCLC patients receiving highly emetogenic regimens

Abstract Purpose : To assess the efficacy and tolerability of low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation plus standard antiemetics following highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods : NSCLC patients who received highly emetogenic chemotherapy were randomized into control and observation groups by random number table. Patients in the observation group received the triple antiemetic regime plus low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation (since the day of chemotherapy for 5 days consecutively). Meanwhile, those in the observation group only received the triple antiemetic regime. The severity of nausea and vomiting episodes were recorded on a daily basis. On the sixth day after chemotherapy, the patients were scored by the Functional Living Index Emesis (FLIE) questionnaire. The complete response rate of vomiting, incidence of nausea, severity of nausea, and FLIE score were compared between the two groups. Results : Compared with the control group, the incidence of nausea decreased significantly in the observation group throughout the course of treatment (66.7% vs. 40.5%, p =0.016). At 24-120h after chemotherapy, the complete response rate of vomiting at the delayed stage increased conspicuously in the observation group (88.1% vs. 69.1%, p =0.033). At this stage, the proportion of patients without nausea in the observation group was also significantly higher (73.8% vs. 47.6%, p =0.014). The total FLIE scores in the observation group were conspicuously higher than the control group (106.05±15.35 vs. 95.04±20.02, p =0.02). Conclusion : The combination of the triple antiemetic regimen and low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation memorably improves chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in NSCLC patients.