Acupuncture Injections Have Early Effect in Controlling Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting of Patients Receiving Pneumoperitoneal Laparoscopic Surgery

Abstract

Acupuncture is generally accepted that there is clear evidence that acupuncture can be effective for nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, chemotherapy, and the postoperative period. Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) is one of the dominant postoperative problems of pneumonperitoneal laparoscopic surgery which incidence was reported as high as 45%. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is an important cause of delayed discharge from the recovery room and decreased patient satisfaction. Our study is designed to investigate whether P6 acupoint injections is effective as a preventive treatment for postoperative nausea and vomiting of adults receiving laparoscopic pneumonperitoneal surgery. We also examine the response between different sorts of injection agents. We collected 150 patients was randomly divided into 5 groups: (1) Control N group (Cn), bilateral P6 sham point injections with normal saline 1ml; (2) Control L group (Cl), bilateral P6 sham point injections with 1% lidocaine 1ml; (3) Experiment N group (En), bilateral P6 acupoint injection with normal saline 1ml; (4) Experiment L group(El), bilateral P6 acupoint injection with 1% lidocaine 1ml. (5) Reference (Rf), no acupoint injection used. We applied double-blinded method to follow up the events of postoperative nausea and vomiting which were recorded by another observer unknown about 5 groups for 24 hours. Incidence of PONV among Rf, Cn, Cl, En, El were 41%(12/30), 36%(11/30), 43%(13/30), 27%(8/30) and 33%(10/30). En group was found with significant difference in decreased incidence of PONV compared with other groups. But, no significant difference between El group and other three groups (Rf, Cn and Cl). In conclusion: P6 acupoint injections with normal saline may be an alternative, economic method to prevent early postoperative nausea and vomiting. 1%Lidocaine can block early antiernetic effect of P6 acupoint.