title: Treating postlaparoscopic surgery shoulder pain with acupuncture.
abstract: Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acupuncture on postlaparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP) which is a common side effect in patients undergoing abdominal laparoscopic surgery. Methods. Patients with moderate to severe PLSP in spite of analgesic treatment, which were referred by the medical staff to the Complementary-Integrative Surgery Service (CISS) at our institution, were provided with acupuncture treatment. The severity of PLSP and of general pain was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from 0 to 10. Pain assessment was conducted prior to and two hours following acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture treatment was individualized based on traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis. Results. A total of 25 patients were evaluated during a 14-month period, from March 2011 to May 2012. A significant reduction in PLSP (mean reduction of 6.4 ± 2.3 P < 0.0001) and general pain (mean reduction 6.4 ± 2.1 P < 0.0001) were observed, and no significant side effects were reported. Conclusion. Individualized acupuncture treatments according to traditional Chinese medicine principles may improve postlaparoscopic shoulder pain and general pain when used in conjunction with conventional therapy. The primary findings of this study warrant verification in controlled studies.
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Integrative Surgery Service, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb Street, 31048 Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Gur
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1050-8305
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kreindler
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Integrative Surgery Service, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb Street, 31048 Haifa, Israel ; School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, 31905 Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attias
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Management, Tel-Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040 , 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreindler
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Integrative Surgery Service, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb Street, 31048 Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hen
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb Street, 31048 Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Bassel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haj
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb Street, 31048 Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matter
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion International School, Mauerberger building, 2nd floor, Technion City, 3200003 Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Arye
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Integrative Surgery Service, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb Street, 31048 Haifa, Israel ; Department of Internal Medicine, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb Street, 31048 Haifa, Israel ; The Department of Complementary/Integrative Medicine, Law and Ethics, The International Center for Health, Law and Ethics, Haifa University, 199 Aba Khoushy Avenue, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiff