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Preoperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation reduces postoperative pain and improves sleep quality in breast cancer patients with preoperative sleep disturbance

Q: What is TEAS and how is it applied in this study?

TEAS stands for transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation. In this study, it was applied preoperatively at acupoints LI4, HT7, and PC6 with a frequency of 2/100 Hz and intensity of 8-12 mA for 30 minutes before anesthesia.

Q: Does preoperative sleep quality affect postoperative outcomes?

Yes, the study found that among non-TEAS patients, preoperative PSQI scores positively correlated with postoperative pain (NRS) and insomnia (AIS) scores, suggesting preoperative sleep quality predicts postoperative recovery.

Q: What were the main outcomes measured?

The main outcomes were postoperative pain using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours, sleep quality using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) on postoperative days 1-2, and intraoperative blood pressure variability.

Q: How large was the effect of TEAS on pain and sleep?

The study reported statistically significant reductions (p < 0.05) in NRS scores at all time points and improved AIS scores on days 1-2, but exact effect sizes (e.g., Cohen's d) were not provided in the abstract.

In breast cancer patients with preoperative sleep disturbance (PSQI ≥ 6), preoperative TEAS (2/100 Hz, 8-12 mA, 30 min at LI4, HT7, PC6) significantly reduced postoperative pain scores (NRS) at 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours and improved Athens Insomnia Scale scores on postoperative days 1-2 compared to the sleep disturbance control group. Intraoperative blood pressure variability was also lower in the TEAS group (sdSBP: 9.31 ± 2.73 vs 18.85 ± 6.74; cvSBP: 0.08 ± 0.02 vs 0.16 ± 0.05).

Last updated: Jul 17, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100

Human RCT★★☆☆☆

Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆

Mechanism★★★★★

Safety★★★★☆

Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Preoperative Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Alleviates Postoperative Pain and Improves Sleep Quality in Breast Cancer Patients with Preoperative Sleep Disturbance: A Partially Randomized Controlled Trial.

observational

Ma C, Xiong H, Fu W, Lv S, Zhang L, Zhao D, Hu C, Wang X, Li W · Journal of pain research (2026)

Participants: N/A

Duration: 72 hours postoperative follow-up

Intervention: Preoperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at 2/100 Hz, 8-12 mA for 30 minutes at acupoints LI4, HT7, and PC6 before anesthesia

Outcome: Postoperative pain measured by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours; sleep quality measured by Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) on postoperative days 1-2; intraoperative systolic blood pressure variability (sdSBP, cvSBP)

Effect Size: N/A (only p-values reported: p < 0.05 for all primary outcomes)

Population: Breast cancer patients (aged 37-70 years) with preoperative sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ≥ 6) undergoing surgery

Result:

PubMed: 42454001 DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S619125

Mechanism Graph

TEAS activates acupoints LI4, HT7, and PC6 via electrical stimulation

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Stimulation modulates endogenous opioid and autonomic pathways

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Reduced intraoperative blood pressure variability indicates improved autonomic stability

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Result: Attenuated postoperative pain and improved sleep quality

Limitations

⚠Partially randomized design with non-randomized control group (PSQI < 6) limits causal inference
⚠Small sample size (n=59 total, n=17 in TEAS group) reduces statistical power and generalizability

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TEAS and how is it applied in this study?▼

TEAS stands for transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation. In this study, it was applied preoperatively at acupoints LI4, HT7, and PC6 with a frequency of 2/100 Hz and intensity of 8-12 mA for 30 minutes before anesthesia.

Does preoperative sleep quality affect postoperative outcomes?▼

Yes, the study found that among non-TEAS patients, preoperative PSQI scores positively correlated with postoperative pain (NRS) and insomnia (AIS) scores, suggesting preoperative sleep quality predicts postoperative recovery.

What were the main outcomes measured?▼

The main outcomes were postoperative pain using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours, sleep quality using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) on postoperative days 1-2, and intraoperative blood pressure variability.

How large was the effect of TEAS on pain and sleep?▼

The study reported statistically significant reductions (p < 0.05) in NRS scores at all time points and improved AIS scores on days 1-2, but exact effect sizes (e.g., Cohen's d) were not provided in the abstract.

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References

1.Ma C, Xiong H, Fu W, Lv S, Zhang L, Zhao D, Hu C, Wang X, Li W. "Preoperative Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Alleviates Postoperative Pain and Improves Sleep Quality in Breast Cancer Patients with Preoperative Sleep Disturbance: A Partially Randomized Controlled Trial.." Journal of pain research, 2026. PMID: 42454001 DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S619125

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.