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Randomised Controlled Trial of the Efficacy of Acupuncture Versus Placebo on the Caesarean Section Rate in Case of Cervical Dystocia in Full-term Pregnancy

A Randomised Controlled Multicenter Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Acupuncture Versus Placebo on the Caesarean Section Rate in Case of Cervical Dystocia in Full-term Pregnancy

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02394041
Acronym
ACUCESAR
Enrollment
142
Registered
2015-03-20
Start date
2012-11-30
Completion date
2014-07-31
Last updated
2015-03-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cervical Dystocia

Keywords

acupuncture, cervical dystocia, caesarean section, obstetric labor, randomized controlled trial

Brief summary

The principal objective of the trial is to demonstrate that acupuncture could reduce the caesarean section rate for cervical dystocia. Secondary objectives: To demonstrate that acupuncture can: * reduce morbidity, fetal mortality and duration of childbirth; * reduce the cost of care, due to diminution of caesarean sections and duration of obstetric labor; * to evaluate the tolerance.

Detailed description

In this trial, pregnant women with at least 37 weeks of amenorrhea will be randomized to traditional chinese acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or usual care only. 9 investigator sites will participate to this trial targeting to enrol 2220 patients in total. 1780 subjects will receive acupuncture treatment, either effective treatment or sham, whereas 400 patients will receive usual care only. Acupuncture therapy consists in stimulations on specific skin points of the abdominal area, which are specific acupuncture points in traditional chinese medicine for the induction of obstetric labor, according to the professional recommendations of the French Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine College. Each patient will have a 5-week follow-up in this trial.

Interventions

DEVICEAcupuncture

Method of acupuncture: check the condition of skin, disinfect if needed, insert sterile needles with special handling for each point, remove the needles after 15 minutes.

DEVICESham acupuncture

Sham acupuncture with sham needles

Sponsors

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Aged ≥ 18 years * Signed informed consent * Woman carrying one foetus only * at 37 weeks (+/- 2 days) of amenorrhea * Without contraindication to vaginal delivery

Exclusion criteria

* Prior history of caesarean section * Non-cephalic presentation * Fetal macrosomia * Multiple pregnancy * Chronic fetal hypoxia * Placenta praevia * Risk of neonatal contamination

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Caesarean section rateup to 37 weeksRate of caesarean section for cervical dystocia in full-time pregnancies

Countries

France

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026