Safe, successful nausea suppression in early pregnancy with P-6 acustimulation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of P-6 acustimulation for the relief of nausea and vomiting associated with early pregnancy.


METHODS
Forty-one patients were treated with a P-6 acustimulation device at the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School. Pretreatment nausea severity, posttreatment nausea relief and device effectiveness were patient rated using a 1-5 scale. All neonates were evaluated for congenital abnormalities.


RESULTS
Pretreatment nausea severity scores for treated patients averaged 4.2, with most severe and debilitating nausea rated 5. Posttreatment device effectiveness averaged 4.2, with significant or complete relief rated 5. Device ease of use averaged 4.3, with very easy to use rated 5. No congenital abnormalities were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Because current pharmacologic treatments for nausea in early pregnancy are not consistent, efficacious or without unwanted side effects or increased teratogenic risks, acustimulation of P-6 in pregnancy may prove to be a significant therapeutic alternative.
Slotnick
R N
RN
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Suite 310, Hofheimer Hall, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA. slotnirn@evms.edu
D019050:Acupressure / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014953:Wrist