Electroacupuncture and postoperative pain.
We studied 20 otherwise healthy women undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Immediately after wound closure, while still anaesthetized, they received either electroacupuncture (EA) or no further treatment. They were allowed pethidine for postoperative analgesia by patient-controlled infusion pump. Signs of postoperative distress (pain, nausea, drowsiness) were evaluated after 2 and 6 h by visual analogue scale scores. The group receiving EA consumed half the quantity of pethidine as that used used by the no treatment group. Two patients in the EA group had no postoperative analgesia in the first 2 h. There was no difference in the assessments of postoperative distress between groups. No patient was aware of having received EA or not.
Christensen
P A
PA
Department of Anaesthesiology, Randers Central Sygenus, Denmark.
Noreng
M
M
Andersen
P E
PE
Nielsen
J W
JW
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008614:Meperidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
D008614:Meperidine