title: Capsicum plaster at the korean hand acupuncture point reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting after abdominal hysterectomy.
abstract: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are still common and distressing problems after general anesthesia, especially in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. We studied a nonpharmacological therapy of PONV-capsicum plaster (PAS)-at either the Korean hand acupuncture point K-D2 or the Chinese acupuncture point Pericardium 6 (P6) of both hands. One-hundred-sixty healthy patients were included in a randomized, double-blinded study: 60 patients were in the control group, 50 patients were in the K-D2 group, and 50 patients were in the P6 group. PAS was applied at the K-D2 point in the K-D2 group and at the P6 point in the P6 group, whereas in the control group, an inactive tape was fixed at the K-D2 point of both hands. The PAS was applied before the induction of anesthesia and removed at 8 h after surgery. The incidence of PONV and the need for rescue medication were evaluated at predetermined time intervals. In the treatment group, the incidence of vomiting was significantly less (22% for the K-D2 group and 26% for the P6 group) than in the control group (56.7%) at 24 h after surgery (P < 0.001). The need for rescue antiemetics was significantly less in the treatment groups compared with the control group (P < 0.001). We conclude that PAS at the Korean hand acupuncture point K-D2 was an effective method for reducing PONV, as was PAS at the P6 acupoint, after abdominal hysterectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Capsicum plaster at either the Korean hand acupuncture point K-D2 or the Pericardium 6 acupoint reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy.
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002212:Capsicum; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics