[P6 acupoint injection reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting]

Abstract

Despite improvements in anesthetic techniques postoperative vomiting still remains a problem, particularly in ambulant outpatients, and when an opioid is given before or during anesthesia. Anti-emetic are of limited value and often cause drowsiness or other side effects. We report a study in which a simple acupuncture procedure was used in patients undergoing fraction D & C under standard intravenous anesthesia. Sixty-four patients were included and allocated randomly into one of the two groups: control group receiving standard fentanyl-valium-thiopentone anesthesia alone, and the other group receiving injection of 3 mL normal saline into the P6 acupuncture point after the anesthesia. Ten out of the 32 control patients experienced nausea or vomiting compared with only 2 out of 32 patients receiving acupoint injection. The reduction in nausea was significant. These findings cannot be well explained, but it is recommended that the use of acupuncture as an anti-emetic should be explored further.