Effect of perioperative electroacupuncture as an adjunctive therapy on postoperative analgesia with tramadol and ketamine in prostatectomy: a randomised sham-controlled single-blind trial

Objectives To study the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) as perioperative adjunctive therapy added to a systemic analgesic strategy (including tramadol and ketamine) for postoperative pain, opioid-related side effects and patient satisfaction. Methods In a sham-controlled participant- and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society 2014-06, Vol.32 (3), p.215-222
Main Authors: Ntritsou, Vagia, Mavrommatis, Christos, Kostoglou, Christos, Dimitriadis, Georgios, Tziris, Nikolaos, Zagka, Poulcheria, Vasilakos, Dimitrios
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acupuncture Analgesia
Aged
Analgesics - therapeutic use
Analgesics, Opioid
Combined Modality Therapy
Electroacupuncture
Humans
Ketamine - therapeutic use
Male
Middle Aged
Pain Measurement
Pain, Postoperative - drug therapy
Pain, Postoperative - etiology
Pain, Postoperative - therapy
Perioperative Period
Prostatectomy - adverse effects
Tramadol - therapeutic use
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives To study the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) as perioperative adjunctive therapy added to a systemic analgesic strategy (including tramadol and ketamine) for postoperative pain, opioid-related side effects and patient satisfaction. Methods In a sham-controlled participant- and observer-blinded trial, 75 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) EA (n=37; tramadol+ketamine+EA) and (2) control (n=38; tramadol+ketamine). EA (100 Hz frequency) was applied at LI4 bilaterally during the closure of the abdominal walls and EA (4 Hz) was applied at ST36 and LI4 bilaterally immediately after extubation. The control group had sham acupuncture without penetration or stimulation. The following outcomes were evaluated: postoperative pain using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and McGill Scale (SF_MPQ), mechanical pain thresholds using algometer application close to the wound, cortisol measurements, rescue analgesia, Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Y-6 item), patient satisfaction and opioid side effects. Results Pain scores on the NRS and SF_MPQ were significantly lower and electronic pressure algometer measurements were significantly higher in the EA group than in the control group (p
ISSN:0964-5284
1759-9873
DOI:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010498