Acupuncture versus ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative vomiting. A study of children undergoing dental surgery.
This study compares the anti-emetic effect of acupuncture with that of ondansetron and a placebo. Ninety children undergoing dental treatment under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to one of the three equal groups, to receive acupuncture needle insertion, intravenous ondansetron 0.15 mg x kg(-1) or a placebo. Parental satisfaction scores and the incidence of emetic episodes were recorded. A significant difference was found in the number of patients who vomited and the total number of the emetic episodes when comparing the two treatment groups with the placebo group (p < 0.0001). A significant difference was also found between the treatment groups and the placebo group with respect to parental satisfaction score (p < 0.03). We conclude that traditional Chinese acupuncture is a valid non-pharmacological alternative anti-emetic treatment that can be recommended as a prophylactic technique in children undergoing dental surgery under general anaesthesia.
Somri
M
M
Department of Anaesthesia, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, PO Box 4940, 31048 Haifa, Israel. somri_m@yahoo.com
Vaida
S J
SJ
Sabo
E
E
Yassain
G
G
Gankin
I
I
Gaitini
L A
LA
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000932:Antiemetics; D017294:Ondansetron