Positive Health Online

Abstract

ALKAISSI and co-workers, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital in Linkoeping, Linkoeping, Sweden, have found that P6 acupressure may relieve nausea and vomiting after gynaecological surgery.

Background

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of sensory stimulation of the P6 point on postoperative nausea and vomiting in the everyday clinical steeing.

Methodology

410 women undergoing general anaesthesia for elective gynaecological surgery were included in this prospective, consecutive, randomized, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial. One group (135 women) was given bilateral P6 acupressure, a second group (139 women) was given similar pressure on non-acupressure points, a third group (136 women) served as a no-treatment control. Nausea, vomiting, pain, and satisfaction with the treatment were recorded. Results were analyzed by logistic regression.

Results

No nausea, vomiting or rescue medication was more frequent in the acupressure group than in the no-treatment group (p = 0.02). The incidence of nausea and vomiting was 46% in the no-treatment group, 38% in the placebo group, and 33% in the acupressure group. When considering cases of vaginal surgery separately, the decrease in nausea and vomiting was from 36% to 20% (p = 0.017). The corresponding decrease from 59% to 55% in women who had had laparoscopic surgery was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

P6 acupressure is a noinvasive method that may have a place as prophylactic antiemetic therapy during gynaecological surgery, particularly in cases of vaginal surgery.

References

Alkaissi A, Evertsson K, Johnsson VA, Ofenbartl L, Kalman S. P6 acupressure may relieve nausea and vomiting after gynaecological surgery: an effectiveness study in 410 women. Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia 49 (10): 1034-1039, Dec 2002.