Postoperative pain following intraoperative acupuncture: a randomized‑controlled study

Area of Science:

• Integrative Oncology
• Surgical Care
• Pain Management

Background:

• Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to optimize patient recovery.
• Integrative oncology interventions are increasingly explored for managing surgical side effects.
• Gynaecological oncology surgery presents unique challenges for postoperative pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an integrative oncology intervention on postoperative care, specifically pain, in patients undergoing gynaecological oncology surgery.
• To compare the effects of preoperative touch/relaxation and intraoperative acupuncture versus standard care.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 102 patients undergoing gynaecological oncology surgery.
• Three groups: Group A (preoperative touch/relaxation + intraoperative acupuncture), Group B (preoperative touch/relaxation only), Group C (standard care).
• Postoperative pain assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), along with analgesic use, bowel/urinary function, and discharge time.

Main Results:

• Patients in Group A (laparoscopic surgery) reported significantly lower pain scores on postoperative day 1 compared to Group C.
• Patients in Group B (open laparotomy) had earlier discharge than Group C.
• No significant differences were observed in overall VAS pain scores, analgesic use, or bowel/urinary function between groups.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative acupuncture, as part of an ERAS protocol, may reduce immediate postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological oncology surgery.
• Further research with objective nociception measures is recommended to confirm these findings.
• The study highlights the potential of acupuncture in enhancing recovery after specific oncological surgeries.