Positive Health Online

Abstract

ALKAISSI and colleagues, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital in Linkoping, Sweden write that acupuncture and acupressure have previously been reported to possess antiemetic (anti-nausea) effect. The authors conducted a double-blind and randomised study to investigate the "genuine" and placebo effect of acupressure in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

Background

Methodology

60 women undergoing outpatient minor gynaecological surgery were recruited into the study. One group received acupressure with bilateral stimulation of P6 (A); a second group received bilateral placebo stimulation (P); and a third group received no acupressure writ band and served as a reference group (R). PONV was evaluated as number of patients with complete response (no PONV), nausea only or vomiting. Additionally, the need for rescue antiemetic medication and nausea after 24 hours was registered.

Results

A complete response (no PONV) was obtained in 11, 11 and 9 patients in groups A, P and R respectively. 9, 7 and 6 patients had nausea prior to discharge home, and 1, 1 and 8 patients were nauseated 24 hours following operation in A, P and R groups respectively. Compared to placebo acupressure (2 patients vomited and 5 needed rescue), significantly fewer P6 acupressure patients required rescue antiemetic medication (no vomiting or rescue medication). Compared to the observation group (5 vomited and 4 needed rescue antiemetics), significantly fewer vomited following acupressure .

Conclusion

For patients undergoing brief gynaecological surgery, the placebo effect of acupressure decreased nausea after 24 hours; however vomiting and requirement for rescue antiemetics was reduced only by genuine acupressure at the correct stimulation of P6.

References

Alkaissi A et al. Effect and placebo effect of acupressure (P6) on nausea and vomiting after outpatient gynaecological surgery. Acta Anaesthesiological Scandinavica 43(3): 270-4 Mar 1999.