The Effect of Electroacustimulation on Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting and Pain in Outpatient Plastic Surgery Patients

The Effect of Electroacustimulation on Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting and Pain in Outpatient Plastic Surgery Patients

The Effect of Electroacustimulation on Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting and Pain in Outpatient Plastic Surgery Patients: A Prospective, Randomized, Blinded Clinical Trial

Introduction: Current rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) experienced by outpatient surgery patients are as high as 20-30%. Electroacustimulation (EAS) therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in controlling these symptoms, but trials identifying their efficacy in the outpatient surgery population are lacking. This study integrates conventional pharmacotherapy with alternative medicine in prevention of PONV. Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty two patients undergoing surgery procedures at an outpatient surgery center were randomized to two treatment arms. The first arm was standardized pharmacologic PONV prevention typical for patients undergoing outpatient surgery, while the second arm employed the use of ReliefBand, an FDA-approved electroacustimulation (EAS) device with pharmacologic treatment to relieve symptoms of PONV and pain. EAS is a derivative of acupuncture therapy that uses a small electrical current to stimulate acupuncture points on the human body and is thought to relieve nausea, vomiting and pain. Outcomes measured were post-op questionnaires evaluating pain and nausea symptoms, emetic events, the need for rescue medications and the time to discharge.

Received electroacustimulation at the wrist using a small, battery-powered electroacustimulation device.

Electroacustimulation (EAS) is a derivative form of acupuncture therapy where a small current of electricity instead of a needle is used to stimulate an acupoint on the human body in an effort to create therapeutic effects.

Nausea is scored on a scale of 1-10 where 1 is least nauseated and 10 is severely nauseated. Nausea scores will be collected 30, 60, and 120 minutes after surgery.

Phone survey of nausea/vomiting symptoms was administered on postoperative day 1. The survey consists of 8 questions, including: 1) a query about whether or not participant has experienced nausea since returning home; 2) rate nausea severity on a scale of 1-10 (where 10 is the most severe); 3) a query about satisfaction of nausea control; 4) a question asking if they would use the same post-op nausea treatment again; 5) a query about what activities the participant has been unable to do since surgery; 6) whether or not the participant has taken prescription medicine for treatment of nausea since returning home; 7) whether or not participant has taken prescription medicine for treatment of pain since returning home; and 8) if yes for 6-7, which medications.

Participants will evaluate their postoperative pain score on a scale of 1-10 where 1 is the least pain and 10 is the most severe pain. Pain scores will be evaluated at 30, 60, and 120 minutes postop.

Inclusion Criteria: undergoing surgery at the University of Wisconsin outpatient surgery center Exclusion Criteria: pregnancy currently experiencing menstrual symptoms cardiac pacemaker previous experience with acupuncture therapy pharmacologic treatment for nausea or vomiting in the 24 hours prior to surgery

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Larson JD, Gutowski KA, Marcus BC, Rao VK, Avery PG, Stacey DH, Yang RZ. The effect of electroacustimulation on postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pain in outpatient plastic surgery patients: a prospective, randomized, blinded, clinical trial. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Mar;125(3):989-94. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181ccdc23.