title: Effect of P6 acupressure on postoperative vomiting in children undergoing outpatient strabismus correction.
abstract: A prospective, double-blind study was conducted to compare the effect of pressure at the P6 (Neikuan) point with placebo as an antiemetic in children. Sixty-six patients, ages 3-12 yr, undergoing outpatient surgery for correction of strabismus, were allocated randomly to receive either bilateral P6 acupressure or placebo during the perioperative period. The study was designed to detect a 50% difference in the incidence of postoperative vomiting between the two groups, with a 90% power of achieving a statistically significant result at the 5% level (two-tailed). The incidence of postoperative vomiting for the placebo group was 58% before discharge from hospital, 73% at home and 82% in the first 24 h after surgery. The corresponding results for the acupressure group were 58% before discharge, 71% at home and 94% in the first 24 h. These differences were not significant; P6 acupressure did not reduce the incidence of postoperative vomiting in children undergoing strabismus surgery.
authors.affiliation: Section of Paediatric Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pryn
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wilton
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*