ACUPRESSURE VERSUS INTRAVENOUS METOCLOPRAMIDE TO PREVENT NAUSEA AND VOMITING DURING SPINAL-ANESTHESIA FOR CESAREAN-SECTION

Nausea and vomiting occur frequently during cesarean section under spi nal anesthesia. Metoclopramide reduces intraoperative nausea and vomit ing, but not without potential side effects. Acupressure, a noninvasiv e variation of acupuncture that involves constant pressure on the wris t, has been suggested as an alternative method to prevent nausea and v omiting. The aim of this study was to compare acupressure and intraven ous (IV) metoclopramide for the prevention of nausea and vomiting duri ng elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Seventy-five pat ients were studied in a randomized, prospective, double-blind comparat ive trial. Group I patients received acupressure bands + 2 mL IV salin e, Group II patients received placebo wrist bands + 10 mg IV metoclopr amide, and Group III patients received placebo wrist bands + 2 mL IV s aline. Patients who received either acupressure or metoclopramide prio r to initiation of spinal anesthesia for cesarean section had much les s nausea than patients in the placebo group. Acupressure is an effecti ve, nonpharmacologic method to reduce intraoperative nausea during ele ctive cesarean section in the awake patient.