Acupuncture analgesia for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: a Lagos experience

Acupuncture analgesia was employed as a therapeutic modality for upper gastro-intestinal tract (G.I.T) endoscopy in 18 adult Nigerians. The overall success rate was 88.2%. This correlates with the finding with conventional chemical analgesia (such as topical analgesia, diazepam and /or pethidine injection) without the added complications. The main advantage of acupuncture analgesia in G.I.T. endoscopy is the ease of cricopharyngeal sphincter intubation.