OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of unilateral ST 36 stimulation using Japanese acupuncture technique in the early return of bowel function after intrabdominal surgery compared with placebo in children between 3-18 years of age undergoing general anesthesia.

METHODOLOGY: This is a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT) among American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-III children aged 3-18 admitted for elective intraabdominal surgery under general anesthesia. Thirty-eight subjects were randomly assigned to non-acupuncture or acupuncture group. Press tack needle was placed on the right ST 36 point of the subject and stimulated on five occasions. Bowel motility, time to first flatus, first sips of water, start of solid food, first defecate, and length of hospital stay were the outcomes recorded.

RESULTS: The acupuncture group had earlier normal bowel sounds appreciated, and faster time to first flatus and defecate. Time to start sips of water, initiate feeding, and discharged from the hospital were earlier in the non-acupuncture group. Nonetheless, these were all statistically insignificant (p=0.188, 0.270, 0.307, 0.472, 0.085, and 1.0). Return of bowel sounds per minute was found to be prompter in the acupuncture group compared to non-acupuncture, which was statistically significant on the first day postoperatively with a p value of=0.045.

CONCLUSION: Unilateral ST 36 stimulation using Japanese acupuncture can help with early recovery of normoactive bowel sounds on the first day after intraabdominal surgery. However, this was ineffectual in enhancing overall bowel function following intraabdominal operation. Larger, homogeneous abdominal surgery is advised for future investigations.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Child Preschool: 2-5 Yrs Old ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Acupuncture ; Anesthesia, General ; Randomized Controlled Trial ; General Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of preoperative Japanese acupuncture for prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in non-sedated children for surgery under general anesthesia.

METHODS: This is an RCT studying the effectiveness of press-tack Japanese needles in P6 prior to any sedatives in children age 5-18 years old for surgery under general anesthesia (n=66). Patients were randomized to receive either press-tack needle (n=33) or an identical press-tack without the metal component (n=33). Incidence of PONV was reported using BARF scale. Children, parents, anesthesiologists, and nurses were blinded to group assignment.

RESULTS: Eight of 33 (22%) in the intervention group while 17 of 33 (51.52%) in the placebo group experienced PONV (RR = 0.47, 95% CI [0.24-0.94], p-value 0.0224). One case reported an adverse event of worsening of nausea and vomiting.

CONCLUSIONS: Japanese acupuncture at P6 prior to sedation using press-tack needle significantly reduced the incidence of PONV in children after general anesthesia. KEYWORDS: PONV, POV, P6, PC6, Japanese acupuncture, Acupuncture, RCT

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent (a Person 13-18 Years Of Age) ; Pre-adolescent (a Child 6-12 Years Of Age) ; Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting ; Vomiting, Postoperative ; Pericardium ; Acupuncture