Laser Acupuncture for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
BACKGROUND
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is usually treated with opiate derivatives and supported with nonpharmacological treatment.


METHODS
This prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded, single-center study was carried out between March 2009 and November 2014. Newborn infants diagnosed with NAS after maternal opioid substitution therapy were eligible for inclusion. Infants were randomly allocated to the acupuncture group (combining laser acupuncture and pharmacological therapy of morphine and phenobarbital) or control group (pharmacological therapy alone). Laser acupuncture was performed with a LABpen MED 10 (675 nm/10 mW) at 5 ear and 4 body acupuncture points, bilaterally, and sessions were repeated every day. The primary outcome measure was duration of oral morphine therapy for NAS. Secondary outcomes included highest single Finnegan score, time to highest single Finnegan score, maximum amount of oral morphine solution (in milliliters per kilogram and milligrams per kilogram), time to maximum amount of oral morphine solution, and length of hospital stay.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight newborns (14 in each group) were eligible for analysis. Duration of oral morphine therapy was significantly reduced in the acupuncture group compared with the control group (28 vs 39 days, respectively, P = .019). In addition, we observed a significantly reduced length of hospital stay in the acupuncture group compared with the control group (35 days [interquartile range 25 to 47] vs 50 days [36 to 66], P = .048).


CONCLUSIONS
Adjunctive laser acupuncture significantly reduced the duration of morphine therapy in newborns with NAS.
Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Research Group for Paediatric Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM Research Center Graz (Acupuncture Research), wolfgang.raith@klinikum-graz.at.
Wolfgang
W
Raith
Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Neonatal Research Unit, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Georg M
GM
Schmölzer
Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Bernhard
B
Resch
Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Fritz
F
Reiterer
Institutes for Medical Informatics, Statistics, and Documentation, and.
Alexander
A
Avian
Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria;
Martin
M
Koestenberger
Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Research Group for Paediatric Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM Research Center Graz (Acupuncture Research).
Berndt
B
Urlesberger
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D009020:Morphine; D010634:Phenobarbital