Electroacupuncture on PC6 prevents opioid-induced nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic surgery.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the treatment time dependence of electroacupuncture (EA) on Neiguan (PC6) for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

METHODS:

One hundred and seventy-eight patients, who had received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with Fentanyl, were assigned randomly to three groups using random numbers: a pre-operative EA group (PrEA), a post-operative EA group (PoEA), and a non-acupuncture control group (NC). An anesthetist evaluated the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting for 48 h after surgery blindly. The main outcomes were severity and freguency of PONV, which were measured with a self-reported questionnaire and a confirmation from the anesthetist. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and Z-test.

RESULTS:

The incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the PrEA group than the NC group during 48 h after surgery (P<0.01, P<0.05). The incidence of vomiting was also significantly lower in the PrEA group than the PoEA group (P<0.05). The PoEA subjects evidenced no significant differences compared with the NC subjects in terms of the incidence of nausea and vomiting (P<0.05). The severity of nausea was significantly lower in the PrEA group than in the NC and PoEA groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

EA on PC6 is effective in the prevention of PONV, and pre-operative acupuncture is more effective than post-operative acupuncture.

• Authors: Siwoo Lee, Myeong Soo Lee, Deok Hwa Choi, Su Kyung Lee
• Journal: Chinese journal of integrative medicine (Chin J Integr Med) Vol. 19 Issue 4 Pg. 277-81 (Apr 2013) ISSN: 1672-0415 [Print] China
• PMID: 23546631 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid

Topics

• Acupuncture Points
• Adult
• Analgesics, Opioid (adverse effects)
• Electroacupuncture
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• Laparoscopy (adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (epidemiology, etiology, prevention & control)