PC 6 Reduces Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Craniotomy Patients

Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) Reduces Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Craniotomy Patients

In this trial, 60 patients scheduled for craniotomy were randomly assigned to two groups: an acupuncture group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). After surgery, when regaining consciousness from anesthesia, those in the acupuncture group received stimulation of the bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) acupoint. Needles were inserted, manipulated for 1 minute, again 10 minutes later, and left in place for 20 minutes. The control group received no acupuncture treatment. Nausea was rated on a four-point verbal scale (none, mild, moderate, severe), and vomiting/retching was recorded as emetic episodes.

Outcomes showed a substantial difference between groups. In the acupuncture group, only 1 patient vomited in the 0-2 hour period post-operation and 1 in the 2-6 hour period; no vomiting was reported 6-24 hours after surgery. By contrast, the control group reported 11 vomiting episodes from 0-2 hours, 8 episodes from 2-6 hours, and 8 episodes from 6-24 hours. Nausea scores were significantly lower in the acupuncture group across all three postoperative time periods (0-2h, 2-6h, 6-24h).

The study concludes that PC 6 (Neiguan) acupuncture stimulation when patients are emerging from anesthesia is effective for reducing both the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting after craniotomy. It appears especially effective in limiting early- and mid-term vomiting, and in lowering subjective nausea across those time frames.

Reference:

Lü JQ, Feng RZ, Pan H, Li N. A randomized controlled clinical trial for acupuncture stimulation of Neiguan (PC 6) to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting. Zhen ci yan jiu= Acupunct Res. 2013;38(3):245-248