Needle-free electroacupuncture for postoperative pain management

Abstract

This study examined the effects of needle-free electroacupuncture, at ST36 on postoperative pain following hysterectomy. Based on a double-blind, sham and different intervention controlled clinical experimental design, 47 women were randomly allocated to four different groups. Except for those in the control group (Group 1, n = 13), a course of treatment was given of either sham (Group 2, n = 12), high-frequency stimulation (Group 3, n = 12), or low-frequency stimulation (Group 4, n = 10). All groups were assessed during the postoperative period for 24 hours. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to determine the amount of perceived pain felt by each subject. Differences were found between the means postoperatively at three, four, eight, 16 and 24 hours. Post hoc comparison tests indicated that Group 4 was significantly different from Groups 1, 2, and 3 at 24 hours. A one-way ANOVA analysis for total patient-controlled analgesia demand and doses indicated significant differences between the groups F(3, 42) = 3.59, P < .05. Post hoc analysis confirmed the differences between Groups 1 (M = 84.54) and 4 (M = 41.60). Treatment outcomes of this therapy showed a positive effect for the management of postoperative pain.

Figure 1

Flow chart of participants through each stage of the trial.

Figure 2

Pain perceived by subjects over a 24-hour period using the visual analogue scale.

Figure 3

PCA doses delivered in the postoperative room.