None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
About one in two to three surgical patients suffer from nausea and vomiting after operation (PONV) and PONV greatly impacts on patient surgical experience and can prolong the hospital stay. Acupressure, a form of non-invasive acupuncture, can safely and effectively reduce the incidence of PONV by up to 30%. The current project aims to assess if acupressure could be incorporated into the routine management of PONV in a public hospital in Victoria to provide a non-drug option for surgical patients; what factors may impact on the adoption of acupressure; and if this non-drug option could reduce PONV and / or the use of medications. The acupressure tested is a wristband, called Seaband, and is applied to Nei Guan, an acupuncture point on the wrist of patient, about 30 min prior to surgery. The band can be in place for 24 hours. The band can be easily removed by patient if it becomes uncomfortable and can be applied later. We expect to see that this band can be easily integrated into the standard PONV management plan, and acupressure may reduce PONV or the use of anti-emetics post-operatively. Both staff and patients would be happy to have a non-drug option to complement the existing PONV management plan.
Interventions
Acupressure wristband (Seaband) is implemented. The suitable intervention has been determined through a feasibility study. Acupressure is applied to prospectively patients who are considered at a moderate to high risk for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) as assessed with a PONV risk checklist and who agree to use acupressure.
Nurses at the pre-admission clinic applies one SeaBand to PC6 (Neiguan, an acupuncture point) on the right side of the wrist 30 minutes prior to the operation. Th
Acupressure wristband (Seaband) is implemented. The suitable intervention has been determined through a feasibility study. Acupressure is applied to prospectively patients who are considered at a moderate to high risk for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) as assessed with a PONV risk checklist and who agree to use acupressure. Nurses at the pre-admission clinic applies one SeaBand to PC6 (Neiguan, an acupuncture point) on the right side of the wrist 30 minutes prior to the operation. The wristband is to be left on 24 hours postoperatively. The wristband will feel firm around the wrist, but not so tight that they are painful or constricting. Patients are advised to press on the button that is on the band if they feel nausea or want to vomit. Patients are notified if the wristband becomes too tight or very uncomfortable, it can be taken off for 30 min for a break or not use them thereafter. It is normal to see a red mark or indentation afterwards. Time of application will be noted on the Sea-Band and documented in the patient’s Progress Notes. The observation time is 24 hours.
Sponsors
Northern Hospital
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Other
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion: meeting both criteria • Those who undergo general anaesthesia • PONV risk at or more than 2 prior to surgery
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion: meeting anyone of the following criteria • Patients that are scheduled to stay in Intensive Care Unit after surgery; • Patients have active carpel tunnel syndrome • Patients whose wrist is over 23 cm in circumference or • Patient wrist is swelling or in pain
Outcome results
None listed