Effect of acupressure on post operative nausea and vomiting

Introduction: Nausea and vomiting is one of the most common postoperative complications. Aside from pharmacological interventions, other complementary healing modalities have been introduced to assist patients in decreasing this complication. This study examined acupressure as a potentially safe method (comparing to the traditional approach of using drugs) for preventing and or reliving nausea and vomiting in the postoperative patient. Methods: A double-blinded, experimental interventional study was conducted on 240 ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologist) I and II adults who were scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery. The patients were divided randomly in two groups. In case group, acupressure was performed 5 minutes before induction of anesthesia by applying an acuband on the Nei Guan point that remained in situ for 5.5 hours. In the control group bands without button inside were applied. Induction and maintenance of anaesthesia was similar in two groups. Patients were asked by another person (who didn’t know about applied bounds) about any nausea or vomiting in recovery room, 6 and 24 hours after operation. The results were analyzed by SPSS, T and Chi-square statistical tests. Results: There were no significant difference considering age between two groups. The two groups had no difference regarding anesthetic drugs. The incidence of nausea and vomiting were the same in recovery room and there were no differences between two groups in this regard. In the acupressure group the incidence of nausea and/or vomiting was significantly lower than placebo group in the 6th and 24th hour after operation. The incidence of nausea and vomiting in the women of two groups were slightly but not significantly higher than the men. The acupressure effects on decreasing nausea and vomiting were the same in men and women in different times post operation. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the acupressure on the acupuncture point PC 6 (Pericardium-6) is an effective method for reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults after orthopedic surgery. We suggest this method in other surgeries that are accompanied by higher incidence of nausea and vomiting.