ACUPUNCTURE AND POSTOPERATIVE VOMITING IN DAY-STAY PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS

The stimulation of the acupuncture point P6 has been used to prevent n ausea and vomiting in the adult population. It has, however been subje ct to limited comparative evaluation in children. We proposed that sti mulation of P6 and the analgesic point Li4 would reduce the incidence of postoperative vomiting. Eighty-four unpremedicated paediatric patie nts having day-stay surgery (circumcision or herniotomy/orchidopexy) w ere included in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study of transcutaneous stimulation of P6 and Li4. or no stimulation. The inci dence of vomiting was recorded for 24 hours postoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference in total postoperative vomiti ng in those patients who were stimulated compared with the control gro up (P=0.909), or between any group for postoperative vomiting in the r ecovery ward, day-stay ward or at home. For all groups, vomiting was m ore common within the first four hours and more likely to occur in the day-stay ward.