Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting and Acupuncture/Acupressure

Can Acustimulation Attenuate Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Children Who Have Undergone Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy?

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 2Phase 3

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00965367

Enrollment

154

Registered

2009-08-25

Start date

2008-05-31

Completion date

2008-11-30

Last updated

2009-08-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Nausea, Postoperative Vomiting

Keywords

POV tonsillectomy adenoidectomy acupuncture acupressure child, Effectiveness of acupuncture on

Brief summary

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remain a significant challenge in the investigators practice. However, pharmaceutical prophylaxis can imply unpleasant adverse effects. It would therefore be appropriate to consider the use of non-pharmacological methods in preventing PONV. Acupuncture and acupressure are reported to be effective preventive treatment for PONV, and the adverse effects are minimal. Consequently, the investigators will investigate if acupuncture and acupressure can be implemented as a supplementary to the ordinary treatment in children undergoing surgery for tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. The study will also focus on the feasibility for acupuncture and acupressure in the operation theatre. The study and inclusion/exclusion decisions are conducted after the intention-to-treat principle. 126 patients are included, divided into two groups: 1. Treatment Group - standard treatment and acupuncture performed after induction of anaesthesia, acupressure administered before awakening 2. Control Group - standard treatment The primarily endpoints in this study are nausea, retching and vomiting. The effect of acupuncture/acupressure will be studied with regard to any association with possible factors of predisposition to PONV, as well as with other factors registered during the study. Adverse effects from the acupuncture site and wristband will be registered.

Interventions

DEVICEAcustimulation

Acupressure in P6 bilaterally given after induction of anaesthesia for 20 minutes, followed by acupressure wrist bands applied on the same acupoints for 24 hours.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

FACTORIAL

Primary purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

2 Years to 12 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Children scheduled for tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy * Informed consent from the parents/guardians

Exclusion criteria

* ASA grade greater than or equal to III (patients with severe systemic disease) * Rash or local infection over an acupuncture point * Emesis during the previous 24 hours * Use of medication with antiemetic effect and/or other antiemetic therapy within the 24 hours before surgery * Gastric or intestinal diseases

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Postoperative nausea and vomiting	24 hours

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
The effect of the intervention will be studied with regard to any association with possible factors of predisposition to PONV. Adverse effects will also be registered.	24 hours

Countries

Norway

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026