RecruitingInterventionalPhase 2

Acupuncture to Improve Outcomes in Sepsis Patient: The ACTIONS Trial

NCT ID: NCT06344819Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterLast updated: 2026-05-22

Summary

Researchers think acupuncture may improve outcomes for participants with sepsis, based on laboratory studies and previous studies in people with sepsis. The purpose of this study to see whether real acupuncture can improve outcomes for participants with sepsis when compared to sham acupuncture. Sham acupuncture is performed the same way as real acupuncture but will use different needles and target different sites or places on the body than real acupuncture.

Arms & interventions

ProcedureAcupuncture
Acupuncture involves insertion of thin filiform needles (gauze 30-40) at certain points on the body.
OtherSham Acupuncture
During sham acupuncture, the point on the participant's thigh 6 inches proximal to the ST36 acupuncture point is gently tapped with an acupuncture needle guide tube and an acupuncture needle is taped flat to the skin. This point is not on any acupuncture meridian or point.

Outcome measures

Primary

Number of participants recruited compared to the number of participants who complete study treatment.
To assess the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of acupuncture in hospitalized patients who are at risk for sepsis.
Time frame: Up to 2 years

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 or older * Having MSK sepsis order-set placed within the previous 48 hours Exclusion Criteria: * The study Principal Investigator will review the medical record again prior to enrollment to exclude non-sepsis patients (Even though the placement of sepsis order set already screens out such patients, subsequent clinical development after sepsis order set placement may generate new information that deems the patient not septic.) * Admitted to ICU before being approached for consenting * Having an implanted medical device, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), with which electroacupuncture * Unable to obtain informed consent due to a participant's mental status and absence of an individual authorized to give consent on the participant's behalf * The patient is on an interventional clinical trial and its Principal Investigator does not give approval to enrollment to this study (e.g. genomic profiling, biospecimen, or observational studies do not require PI approval).

Study locations (1)

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065

Recruiting

Gary Deng, MD, PhD · Contact

646-608-8556