HemorrhoidectomyNCT07238504
Acupuncture for Post-hemorrhoidectomy Pain Control
A study testing Acupuncture in people with Hemorrhoidectomy and Hemorrhoid Pain, run by The University of Hong Kong.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if acupuncture improves pain control after hemorrhoidectomy in patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids. It will also learn about the safety of using acupuncture in surgical patients. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 90 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Hemorrhoidectomy, Hemorrhoid Pain, Acupuncture
- What is being tested?
- Acupuncture
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Mar 2026to Apr 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 90 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Symptomatic grade III or IV hemorrhoids undergoing conventional hemorrhoidectomy
Who cannot join
- Patients scheduled for stapled hemorrhoidopexy
- Concomitant surgery other than conventional hemorrhoidectomy
- Bleeding tendency, thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100 x 10^9/L)
- Immunocompromised status or use of chemotherapy
- Active dermatitis
- Patients with pacemaker or automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
Show all 14Show fewer
- Pregnant patients
- Known allergy to opioids, local anaesthetic drugs, paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) including cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors
- History of chronic pain (duration for 3 months or more)
- Daily use of strong opioids (e.g. morphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, oxycodone, or meperidine)
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Psychiatric illness
- Impaired renal function (preoperative serum creatinine level > 120µmol/L)
- Recent acupuncture treatment for other medical conditions
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Acupuncture for Post-hemorrhoidectomy Pain Control With Acute Anti-inflammatory Effects: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if acupuncture improves pain control after hemorrhoidectomy in patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids. It will also learn about the safety of using acupuncture in surgical patients. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does acupuncture lower the maximal pain intensity after hemorrhoidectomy? Does acupuncture reduce analgesics requirement, length of hospital stay and quality of recovery?
Read more
Researchers will compare fully active acupuncture to a sham treatment (a look-alike procedure with minimum acupuncture stimulation) to see if active acupuncture works to improve pain control.
Participants will:
Receive acupuncture treatment for 7 times over first 5 days after surgery. Visit the clinic once 2 weeks after surgery for checkups and tests. Keep a diary of their symptoms and the number of times they take pain-killers.
- Conditions
- Hemorrhoidectomy, Hemorrhoid Pain, Acupuncture
- Being tested
- Acupuncture
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
AcupunctureProcedure or surgery
Also called Fully active acupuncture
Acupuncture to 6 specific acupoints, 3 distant acupoints and electrical stimulation to 4 pairs of local acupoints.
AcupunctureProcedure or surgery
Also called Minimum acupuncture stimulation
Minimal electrical stimulation to 1 local acupoint and 2 distant acupoints
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Fully active acupuncture | Experimental | Not described Receives: Procedure: Acupuncture |
| Minimum acupuncture stimulation | Sham comparator | Not described Receives: Procedure: Acupuncture |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximal pain intensity
Numeric rating scale (minimum at 0 means 'no pain', maximum at 10 means 'worst pain')
Measured: Post-operative day 1
Secondary outcomes (7)
Maximal and resting pain intensity
Numeric rating scale (minimum at 0 means 'no pain', maximum at 10 mean 'worst pain')
Measured: Post-operative day 0, 2 to 7 and 14
Dosage of analgesics requirement
Dosage of paracetamol, tramadol and celecoxib tablets taken per day over the first post-operative 2 weeks
Measured: Post-operative 2 weeks
Length of hospital stay
Measured: Post-operative day 1
Functional recovery questionnaire
Measured: Post-operative 1 week (time to first bowel motion, time to first urination and time to return to work, counted from the day of operation)
Adverse effect
Effect from analgesics and acupuncture
Measured: Post-operative 2 weeks
Quality of recovery (QoR)
QoR-15 questionnaire, which includes 15 questions scoring at a 10-point scale. Minimum at 0 means worst outcome and maximum at 10 means best outcome.
Measured: Post-operative day 1
Serum C-reactive protein level
Measured: Post-operative day 0 and 1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Nov 2025
- Study startMar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionFeb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for HemorrhoidectomyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Pak Chiu WONG, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07238504
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UW 25-302
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 24 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 2 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Acupuncture for Post-hemorrhoidectomy Pain Control With Acute Anti-inflammatory Effects: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07238504
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UW 25-302
- Conditions
- Hemorrhoidectomy, Hemorrhoid Pain, Acupuncture
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Apr 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if acupuncture improves pain control after hemorrhoidectomy in patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids. It will also learn about the safety of using acupuncture in surgical patients. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does acupuncture lower the maximal pain intensity after hemorrhoidectomy? Does acupuncture reduce analgesics requirement, length of hospital stay and quality of recovery?
Researchers will compare fully active acupuncture to a sham treatment (a look-alike procedure with minimum acupuncture stimulation) to see if active acupuncture works to improve pain control.
Participants will:
Receive acupuncture treatment for 7 times over first 5 days after surgery. Visit the clinic once 2 weeks after surgery for checkups and tests. Keep a diary of their symptoms and the number of times they take pain-killers.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Fully active acupuncture | Experimental | Procedure: Acupuncture |
| Minimum acupuncture stimulation | Sham comparator | Procedure: Acupuncture |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 90 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Symptomatic grade III or IV hemorrhoids undergoing conventional hemorrhoidectomy
Key exclusion criteria (14 listed)
- Patients scheduled for stapled hemorrhoidopexy
- Concomitant surgery other than conventional hemorrhoidectomy
- Bleeding tendency, thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100 x 10^9/L)
- Immunocompromised status or use of chemotherapy
- Active dermatitis
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| AcupunctureAlso: Fully active acupunctureAcupuncture to 6 specific acupoints, 3 distant acupoints and electrical stimulation to 4 pairs of local acupoints. | Procedure or surgery | Fully active acupuncture |
| AcupunctureAlso: Minimum acupuncture stimulationMinimal electrical stimulation to 1 local acupoint and 2 distant acupoints | Procedure or surgery | Minimum acupuncture stimulation |
Primary outcome
Maximal pain intensity
Time frame: Post-operative day 1
Numeric rating scale (minimum at 0 means 'no pain', maximum at 10 means 'worst pain')
7 secondary outcomes
Maximal and resting pain intensity
Time frame: Post-operative day 0, 2 to 7 and 14
Dosage of analgesics requirement
Time frame: Post-operative 2 weeks
Length of hospital stay
Time frame: Post-operative day 1
Functional recovery questionnaire
Time frame: Post-operative 1 week (time to first bowel motion, time to first urination and time to return to work, counted from the day of operation)
Adverse effect
Time frame: Post-operative 2 weeks
Quality of recovery (QoR)
Time frame: Post-operative day 1
Serum C-reactive protein level
Time frame: Post-operative day 0 and 1
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Dec 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
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The Use of Electronic Bidets Compared to Water Rinsing After Surgery for Anal Fistula or Haemorrhoidal Disease: a Pilot Study
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Laser Hemorrhoidoplasty Versus Open Hemorrhoidectomy for Postoperative Pain
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Not yet recruitingPhase 2
Comparing Rectal Artery Embolization and Surgery for Treatment of Bleeding Grade 2 and 3 Internal Hemorrhoids
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Acupuncture in people with Hemorrhoidectomy and Hemorrhoid Pain, run by The University of Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 14 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Pak Chiu Wong (+852-70836168, pwongpc@connect.hku.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Maximal pain intensity (time frame: Post-operative day 1). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Dec 2025.