Does auricular acupuncture reduce postoperative vomiting after cholecystectomy?
OBJECTIVE
To find the efficacy of auricular acupuncture for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after cholecystectomy.


METHODS
One hundred (100) female patients undergoing transabdominal cholecystectomy were randomly allocated to two groups of 50 (auricular acupuncture treatment group and nontreatment group) in order to test the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was determined using an unpaired t-test for age, weight, height, and duration of anesthesia; a chi-square test was used to analyze the incidence of vomiting.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in age, weight, height, or duration of anesthesia among the two groups of patients. There was a significant difference between the control and auricular acupuncture treatment groups in the incidence of vomiting 24 hours after surgery (66% and 0%, respectively, p < 0.01). No noteworthy side effects from treatment were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Auricular acupuncture is effective in reducing vomiting following transabdominal cholecystectomy in female patients.
Sahmeddini
Mohammad Ali
MA
Department of Anaesthesiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. alireza.mehdizadeh@gmail.com
Fazelzadeh
Afsoon
A
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D020831:Acupuncture, Ear / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015990:Placebo Effect; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health