A prospective, controlled clinical trial examined the efficacy of acupressure therapy for morning sickness, using a two group, random assignment, crossover design. The Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist and Sickness Impact Profile were used, and extent of nausea was assessed at baseline, day five, and day ten. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are presented. Patients were randomly allocated to receive AP bilaterally at either PC 06 or at a pseudo-point near the elbow, with manual stimulation for a total of 4min. The mean VAS for nausea improved more in patients treated with AP at PC 06.
Postoperative vomiting causes patients distress and delays discharge after outpatient surgery.
Although EAP at PC 06 is known to have antiemetic effects, its inconvenient instrumentation may limit its clinical applicability. The purpose of this study was to explore a simple and effective alternative method for control of postoperative vomiting in outpatient surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to receive AP point injection, iv droperidol, or nothing as control group. Dept of Anaesthesia, Hospital for Sick Children, Univ of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The effect of AP at PC 06 on postoperative vomiting in 45 children undergoing tonsillectomy was studied.