The efficacy of PC6 acupressure with Sea-Band® on reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients after hysterectomy: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To assess whether bilateral stimulation of the PC6 acupuncture point with Sea-Band^® could reduce patients’ experience of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after hysterectomy. PONV has high prevalence among gynecological patients. Acupressure bands have been suggested to lessen PONV, however; the antiemetic effectiveness of using acupressure band is still not clarified.

Methods: Design: Randomized, non-blinded, single centre trial in a teaching hospital in Denmark. Seventy-two women scheduled for vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy of benign indication, were enrolled in this randomized trial. The women were allocated either to the PC6 group or to the control group.  The PC6 group wore Sea-Band^® wristbands bilaterally for 24 h. The main outcome was complete response i.e., no PONV and rescue antiemetic.

Results: Sixty-two participants (PC6 n = 32; control n = 30) were analyzed. There was no statistically significant difference in complete response between the groups (PC6 group, 50% versus control group 43%) or  the incidence of PONV within the first 24 h postoperatively (PC6 group, 47% versus control group 60%) or in need of rescue antiemetic (PC6 group 38% versus control group 33%).

Conclusions: At the same time as this study started, a new antiemetic was introduced to the clinic and hence interfered with the calculation of sample size and influenced the results. The study did not support the study hypotheses. PC6 acupressure bilaterally for 24 h did not result in significant preventive effects in reducing PONV nor did it result in reduced length of postoperative hospital stay.