[Acupuncture analgesia and analgesic transcutaneous electroneurostimulation in the early postoperative period]

Efficacies of two methods of nondrug analgesia: acupuncture (1000 cases) and antipain transcutaneous electroneurostimulation (91 cases), as well as of narcotic analgesics omnopon and promedol (229 cases) were compared in the immediate and early postoperative period. In 229 cases acupuncture was used for the treatment of other functional complications of the postoperative period. The efficacies of the methods in question were assessed by formalized verbal estimation scales. Narcotic analgesics provided adequate analgesia in 75 to 79% of patients, electrostimulation in 61 to 64%, acupuncture in 50% of patients. Acupuncture, though less effective than narcotic analgesics, helped arrest or noticeably alleviate the severity of such postoperative complications as reflex retention of the urine, impairment of hte drainage function of the bronchi, intestinal paresis, bronchial asthma, vomiting, nausea, pain or itching in the stoma, chill, hyperthermia in 43 to 81% of cases. The authors come to a conclusion on the desirability of an integrative approach (combined use of drugs and nondrug methods of analgesia) in the management of postoperative pain.