Bloodletting acupuncture for the prevention of stridor in children after tracheal extubation: a randomised, controlled study

Bloodletting acupuncture has been used for the treatment of a variety of up per respiratory tract problems, especially those of laryngeal origin. This study assesses its efficacy in reducing the incidence of stridor after trac heal extubation in children undergoing general anaesthesia with halothane. Sixty children were randomly allocated to an acupuncture group and a contro l group. In the acupuncture group, bloodletting acupuncture was performed b efore extubation. A blinded observer determined the presence and severity o f postextubation stridor. The incidence of stridor in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than in the control group. In addition, the sever ity of stridor was significantly greater in the acupuncture group. It is co ncluded that in children undergoing halothane anaesthesia, the incidence of postextubation stridor cannot be reduced by bloodletting acupuncture.