Postoperative pain and respiratory function in patients treated with electroacupuncture following coronary surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate respiratory function and pain score in patients undergoing coronary bypass procedures during the first 7 postoperative days.


METHODS
The study was carried out as a case-control study between April 2008 and April 2009 in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Firat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey. Thirty patients, who had undergone a median sternotomy (MS) for coronary artery bypass graft, were randomized to either the electroacupuncture and pharmacologic analgesia (acupuncture) group, or the pharmacologic analgesia alone (control) group. In each group, severity of pain, analgesic intake, respiratory function, and pulmonary complications were recorded. Pethidine hydrochloride and metamizole sodium were administered.


RESULTS
Of the 30 subjects, 15 were in the control group and 15 in the acupuncture group. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of age and gender. Statistically significant differences in metamizole, pethidine, days 3, 5, 6, and 7 visual analogue scale scores were observed between the acupuncture and control groups. Postoperative complications (atelectasia) were observed in 2 (13.3%) patients, one (6.6%) in each group. The postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity value was higher than the preoperative value in the acupuncture group.


CONCLUSIONS
Electroacupuncture was more effective than control treatments in decreasing pain and limiting opioid and non-opioid medication intake during the first 7 postoperative days following MS.
Colak
Mehmet C
MC
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey. drmccolak@yahoo.com
Kavakli
Ahmet
A
Kilinç
Abdulgani
A
Rahman
Ali
A
D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D004177:Dipyrone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009294:Narcotics; D004177:Dipyrone; D008614:Meperidine