[Electrical point stimulation (P-STIM) via ear acupuncture: a randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot study in patients undergoing laparoscopic nephrctomyX].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether P-STIM-verum in patients undergoing laparoscopic nephrectomies resulted in a lower consumption of analgesics and an improvement of pain scores compared with P-STIM-placebo when administered for acute peri- and postperative pain.


METHODS
The study was carried out in a double-blind, randomized, controlled manner. Forty-four patients were randomised into 2 groups. The P-STIM device was applied to each patient 30 minutes pro-operatively. The Stimulation was applied over 96 hours. The P-STIM-verum group received subthreshold stimulation. The P-STIM-placebo group received no stimulation. Premedication and anaesthesia were applied in a standardised fashion. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated using a postoperative visual analogue scale (at rest and on exertion) and by dermining postoperative analgesic consumption.


RESULTS
The P-STIM-verum group demonstrated better visual analogue at rest and on exertion then the P-STIM-placebo group. The postoperative consumption of morphine-hydrochloride in the first 6 h significantly less in the P-STIM-verum group. The time of first analgesic request was significantly later in the P-STIM-verum group compared with the P-STIM-placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study we were able to demonstrate, that pre- and postoperative P-STIM applied in patients undergoing laparoscopic nephrectomies seems to be an effective, simply applied method with few side-effects for reducing pain and postoperative analgesic consumption.
Likar
R
R
Abteilung für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, LKH Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt. rudolf.likar@kabeg.at
Jabarzadeh
H
H
Kager
I
I
Trampitsch
E
E
Breschan
C
C
Szeles
J
J
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004423:Ear; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects
D000700:Analgesics