title: Manual acupuncture for relieving pain associated with panretinal photocoagulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The feasibility of manual acupuncture for reducing pain associated with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, comparative nonrandomized study on patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy who were receiving PRP treatment. The protocol of PRP included three sequential sessions of treatment at 2-week intervals. Both the acupuncture (acuPRP) and control groups had no acupuncture in the first session. In the second session, acupuncture was given to the acuPRP group only. The third session of PRP completed the laser treatment course. Acupuncture performed only at GB 37 (Guāngmíng) just before PRP, and the needle was removed after the treatment. An 11-point Likert-type verbal pain score test was given to all patients after each PRP treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 34 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 18 patients were allocated to the acuPRP group and 16 patients were allocated to the control group. After the first PRP treatment, there was no statistical difference in mean pain scores between the acuPRP and control groups (6.8±1.2 versus 6.3±2.1, respectively, p=0.383). After the second PRP treatment, the mean pain score in the acuPRP group was significantly lower, compared with the control group (3.9±1.8 versus 7.4±1.9, respectively, p<0.0001). Within the group, the mean pain scores were significantly higher during the second PRP treatment, compared with the first PRP treatment, in the control group (p=0.0003). In contrast, the mean pain scores were significantly lower during the second PRP treatment, compared with the first PRP treatment in the acuPRP group (p<0.0001). No adverse reactions or complications were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture might help reduce pain during PRP treatment. However, further randomized studies are necessary to verify these preliminary results.
authors: Division of Acupuncture and Chinese Traumatology, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Niaosong, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: H H Elley
authors: HH
authors: Chiu
authors: Pei-Chang
authors: PC
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*