Acupuncture Is As Effective As Drugs For Pain, Nausea.

2001 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Acupuncture is just as effective as the leading medication used to reduce nausea and vomiting after major breast surgery, according to a new study conducted by Duke University Medical Center researchers.

The 5000-year-old Chinese practice also decreased postoperative pain in these women, they report. Based on strong trends emerging during the course of their ongoing clinical trial, the Duke researchers believe acupuncture is an effective antiemetic (a drug that reduces nausea and vomiting) that is less expensive and has fewer side effects than medications currently used.

"Up to 70% of women who undergo major breast surgery experience significant postoperative nausea and vomiting, so it is an important medical issue," said lead investigator and Duke anesthesiologist Dr. Tong Joo Gan. "We've known from previous studies that acupuncture can be an effective antiemetic when compared with placebo, but it has never been tested against one of the most commonly used medications ondansetron (Zofran)," Gan continued. "Acupuncture turns out to be just as effective as the drug or better, and our patients also reported much less pain after surgery, a finding that surprised us."

Gan presented the results of his team's study October 15, 2001, during the annual scientific sessions of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. The study enrolled 40 women who were undergoing major breast surgery (breast augmentation, breast reduction or mastectomy) requiring general anesthesia. The procedures lasted between two and four hours, and most women were discharged after spending the night in the hospital.

Women were equally divided into three groups - one received acupuncture before the surgery, one received ondansetron prior to surgery and one received neither. They found that two hours following surgery, 23% of acupuncture patients reported nausea, compared with 36% for the drug and 69% for placebo. After 24 hours, 38% of acupuncture patients reported nausea, compared with 57% for the drug and 61% for placebo.

As to vomiting, 7% of acupuncture patients reported vomiting two hours following surgery, compared with 7% who received ondansetron and 23% who received the placebo. After 24 hours, 23% of acupuncture patients reported vomiting, compared with 28% for the drug and 46% for placebo.

"We were most surprised by the level of pain reported by women, with 31% of acupuncture patients reporting moderate to severe pain two hours after surgery, compared with 64% for ...