Korean Hand Acupressure Reduces Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Gynecological Laparoscopic Surgery

To investigate the effectiveness of prophylactic Korean hand acupressure in the prevention of postoperative vomiting in women scheduled for minor gynecological laparoscopic surgery, we conducted a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study. In one group (n = 40), acupressure was performed 30 min before the induction of anesthesia by using special acupressure seeds, which were fixed onto the Korean hand acupuncture point K-K9 and remained there for at least 24 h. The second group (n = 40) functioned as the Placebo group. The treatment groups did not differ with regard to demographics, surgical procedure, or anesthetic administered. In the Acupressure group, the incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly less (40% and 22.5%) than in the Placebo group (70% and 50%). We conclude that Korean hand acupressure of the acupuncture point K-K9 is an effective method for reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in women after minor gynecological laparoscopic surgery.

[1]  J. Field,et al.  Nausea and vomiting after gynaecological laparoscopy: comparison of premedication with oral ondansetron, metoclopramide and placebo. , 1994, British journal of anaesthesia.

[2]  W. Tolksdorf,et al.  [Acupressure in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting]. , 1993, Der Anaesthesist.

[3]  G. Hobbs,et al.  Comparison of ondansetron and cyclizine for prevention of nausea and vomiting after day-case gynaecological laparoscopy. , 1999, British journal of anaesthesia.

[4]  J. Lerman,et al.  Surgical and patient factors involved in postoperative nausea and vomiting. , 1992, British journal of anaesthesia.

[5]  M. Boehler,et al.  Korean hand acupressure reduces postoperative vomiting in children after strabismus surgery. , 2000, British journal of anaesthesia.

[6]  K. Simpson,et al.  Comparison of the use of domperidone, droperidol and metoclopramide in the prevention of nausea and vomiting following gynaecological surgery in day cases. , 1986, British journal of anaesthesia.

[7]  E. P. Perry,et al.  Postoperative Nausea is Relieved by Acupressure , 1990, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

[8]  A. Lee,et al.  The use of nonpharmacologic techniques to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysis. , 1999, Anesthesia and analgesia.

[9]  R. Harrison,et al.  Acupressure and the prevention of nausea and vomiting after laparoscopy. , 1999, British journal of anaesthesia.

[10]  S. Kalman,et al.  Effect and placebo effect of acupressure (P6) on nausea and vomiting after outpatient gynaecological surgery , 1999, Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica.

[11]  D. Ivens,et al.  Single dose i.v. tropisetron in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after gynaecological surgery. , 1996, British journal of anaesthesia.

[12]  L. Critchley,et al.  Ondansetron 4 mg for the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting after Minor Laparoscopic Gynaecological Surgery , 1994, Anaesthesia and intensive care.

[13]  R. Mirakhur,et al.  Prevention of nausea and vomiting after day case gynaecological laparoscopy , 1995, Anaesthesia.

[14]  G. Finco,et al.  Ondansetron Versus Metoclopramide in the Treatment of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting , 1997, Anesthesia and analgesia.

[15]  J. Dundee,et al.  Traditional Chinese acupuncture: a potentially useful antiemetic? , 1986, British medical journal.

[16]  J. Dundee,et al.  P6 acupressure and postoperative vomiting. , 1992, British journal of anaesthesia.

[17]  K. Simpson,et al.  Comparison of the use of domperidone, droperidol and metoclopramide in the prevention of nausea and vomiting following major gynaecological surgery. , 1986, British journal of anaesthesia.

[18]  S. Julious,et al.  Acupuncture in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting , 1997, Anaesthesia.

[19]  K. Shevde,et al.  Acupressure Treatment for Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting , 1997, Anesthesia and analgesia.

[20]  G. Koutsoukos,et al.  Additive anti-emetic efficacy of prophylactic ondansetron with droperidol in out-patient gynecological laparoscopy , 2000, Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie.