Abstract | BACKGROUND: Acupuncture for postoperative pain remains controversial. Potential sources of bias are failures in patient-blinding and therapist-patient interactions. Our study investigates the effects of electrical auricular acupuncture (AA) on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopy with an emphasis on patient-blinding and the exclusion of therapist-patient interactions. METHODS: With institutional review board approval and written informed consent, we included 40 female patients undergoing laparoscopy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive AA (shen men, thalamus and one segmental organ-specific point) or electrodes only and an electrical stimulation device. All patients received this intervention under general anesthesia guaranteeing patient blinding and excluding therapist-patient interactions. Needles and devices were removed 72 hours postoperatively. Postoperatively, patients received 1,000 mg paracetamol every 6 hours. Additional piritramide was given on demand. A blinded observer obtained the VAS scores at 0, 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours as well as the postoperatively administered doses of piritramide. RESULTS: There was no difference in VAS scores or the consumption of piritramide during the first 72 hours postoperatively between groups (acupuncture versus placebo: 2.32 [1.40-3.25] versus 2.62 [1.89-3.36] average pain on VAS 0-10; 15.3 [12.0-18.6] mg versus 13.9 [10.5-17.3] mg piritramide). Values are expressed as mean [CI]. CONCLUSION:
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Authors | A Holzer, U Leitgeb, A Spacek, R Wenzl, H Herkner, S Kettner |
Journal | Minerva anestesiologica
(Minerva Anestesiol)
Vol. 77
Issue 3
Pg. 298-304
(Mar 2011)
ISSN: 1827-1596 [Electronic] Italy |
PMID | 21441884
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
- Analgesics, Opioid
- Pirinitramide
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Topics |
- Acupuncture, Ear
- Adult
- Analgesics, Opioid
(therapeutic use)
- Anesthesia, General
- Double-Blind Method
- Electric Stimulation Therapy
- Electroacupuncture
(methods)
- Female
- Gynecologic Surgical Procedures
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Pain Measurement
- Pain, Postoperative
(therapy)
- Pirinitramide
(therapeutic use)
- Postoperative Care
- Single-Blind Method
- Young Adult
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