Purpose To investigate the effect of
sensory stimulation of the P6 point on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
after gynecological surgery in the everyday clinical setting (effectiveness
study).
Methods Four
hundred and ten women undergoing general anesthesia for elective gynecological
surgery were included in a prospective, consecutive, randomized, multicentre,
placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial with a reference group. One
group was given bilateral P6 acupressure (n = 135), a second group
similar pressure on bilateral non-acupressure points (n = 139), and a
third group (n = 136) served as reference group. Nausea (scale 0–6),
vomiting, pain, and satisfaction with the treatment were recorded. Primary
outcome was complete response, i.e., no nausea, vomiting or rescue medication
for 24 hr. Results were analyzed by applying logistic regression with
indicators of treatments, type of operation and risk score for PONV as
explanatory variables.
Results Complete
response was more frequent in the P6 acupressure group than in the reference
group (P = 0.0194) Conversely, the incidence of PONV was 46% in the
reference group, 38% after pressure on a non-acupoint and 33% after P6
acupressure. The decrease from 46% to 33% was statistically significant. When
considering vaginal cases separately, the decrease in PONV was from 36% to 20%
(P = 0.0168). The corresponding decrease from 59% to 55% in the
laparoscopic surgery group was not statistically significant.
Conclusion
P6
acupressure is a non-invasive method that may have a place as prophylactic
antiemetic therapy during gynecological surgery.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
P6_Acupressure_May_Relieve_Nausea_and_Vomiting_After_Gynecological_Surgery_An_Effectiveness_Study_in_410_Women.pdf | 139.35 KB |