The use of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation for preventing nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic surgery

Nonpharmacologic techniques may be effective in preventing postoperative na usea and vomiting (PONV). This sham-controlled, double-blinded study was de signed to examine the antiemetic efficacy of transcutaneous acupoint electr ical stimulation (TAES) in a surgical population at high risk of developing PONV. We studied 221 outpatients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy w ith a standardized general anesthetic technique in this randomized, multice nter trial. In the TAES group, an active ReliefBand(R) (Woodside Biomedical ,Inc., Carlsbad, CA) device was placed at the P6 acupoint, whereas in the S ham and Placebo groups, an inactive device was applied at the P6 acupoint a nd at the dorsal aspect of the wrist, respectively. The ReliefBand was appl ied after completion of electrocautery and remained in place for 9 h after surgery. The incidence of PONV and need for "rescue" medication were evalua ted at predetermined time intervals. TAES was associated with a significant ly decreased incidence of moderate-to-severe nausea as denoted on the Funct ional Living Index-Emesis score for up to 9 h after surgery (5%-11% for the TAES group vs 16%-38% [P < 0.05] and 15%-26% [P < 0.05] for Sham and Place bo groups, respectively). TAES was also associated with a larger proportion of patients free from moderate to severe nausea symptoms (73% vs 41% and 4 9% for Sham and Placebo groups, respectively; P < 0.05). However, there wer e no statistically significant differences among the three groups with rega rd to incidence of vomiting or the need for rescue antiemetic drugs. We con clude that TAES with the ReliefBand at the P6 acupoint reduces nausea, but not vomiting, after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.