Related Experiment Videos
Korean hand acupressure reduces postoperative vomiting in children after strabismus surgery
A Schlager1, M Boehler, F Pühringer
1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Insights
Korean hand acupressure at point K-K9 effectively prevented postoperative vomiting in children undergoing strabismus surgery. This non-invasive technique significantly reduced vomiting incidence compared to placebo.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Postoperative vomiting (POV) is a common complication in pediatric patients following strabismus surgery.
- Current pharmacological interventions for POV can have side effects.
- Exploring non-pharmacological methods for POV prevention is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Korean hand acupressure at point K-K9 in preventing postoperative vomiting in children.
- To compare the incidence of POV between children receiving Korean hand acupressure and a placebo group.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study design was employed.
- Participants received either Korean hand acupressure at point K-K9 or a placebo 30 minutes before anesthesia induction.
- Acupressure discs were applied for at least 24 hours post-procedure.
Main Results:
- The acupressure group showed a significantly lower incidence of vomiting (20%) compared to the placebo group (68%).
- Patient characteristics, surgical procedures, and anesthetic agents were comparable between groups, indicating treatment specificity.
Conclusions:
- Korean hand acupressure at point K-K9 is an effective and safe method for reducing postoperative vomiting in pediatric patients undergoing strabismus repair.
- This non-pharmacological approach offers a promising alternative for managing POV in children.
Abstract:
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of Korean hand acupuncture in preventing postoperative vomiting in children scheduled for strabismus surgery. In one group, acupressure was performed 30 min before induction of anaesthesia by applying an acupressure disc onto the Korean hand acupuncture point K-K9; the disc remained in situ for at least 24 h. The second group functioned as placebo group. The treatment groups did not differ with regard to patient characteristics, surgical procedure and anaesthetic administered. In the acupressure group, the incidence of vomiting was significantly lower (20%) than in the placebo group (68%). We conclude that Korean hand acupressure of the acupuncture point K-K9 is an effective method for reducing postoperative vomiting in children after strabismus repair.