Could acupuncture be an adequate alternative to dexamethasone in pediatric tonsillectomy?

Abstract

Acupuncture at P6 bilaterally and CV13 provided similar antiemetic effect to dexamethasone in children undergoing tonsillectomy.

Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Otolaryngologic Perioperative Care

“…Similarly, Moeen compared the antiemetic effects of acupuncture at PC6 and CV13 (located 1 thumb breadth above the midpoint between the umbilicus and the xiphisternum) to dexamethasone in pediatric patients after tonsillectomy. 18 A total of 120 children, 2-8 years old, were enrolled in the randomized, double-blind study. At the start of anesthesia, the control group received intravenous (IV) dexamethasone and sham acupuncture, while the experimental group received acupuncture and IV saline.…”

Comment on: S. M. Moeen ‘Could acupuncture be an adequate alternative to dexamethasone in pediatric tonsillectomy?’

“…Sir –With great interest, we read the article by Seham M. Moeen, entitled “Could acupuncture be an adequate alternative to dexamethasone in pediatric tonsillectomy? ” . The author demonstrated that acupuncture performed at P6 (Nei Guan) bilaterally and CV13 (Shang Wen) may provide antiemetic effects similar to prophylactic dexamethasone in children undergoing tonsillectomy.…”

Response to comment “Cox: alternative therapies and postoperative vomiting”

“…S ir —We thank Dr Cox for his interest in our research about acupuncture and postoperative vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy and for his relevant and valuable comments . In our method section, we had defined both dexamethasone and acupuncture groups; a Cun, “the unit of traditional Chinese medicine measurement”; acupuncture needles; and then the acupuncture needling technique of both groups (All needles were kept in place for 20 min and manually stimulated for 5 s [by needle rotation through 180°] every 5 min and just before needle removal) . Indeed, acupuncture technique was started immediately after induction of anesthesia and maintained for about 7–8 min before start of surgery and then for 12–13 min after start of surgery (period during which positioning and sterilization of children occur), so we think that it did not disturbed the surgery.…”

“…We reported that subjects receiving dexamethasone have statistically significant but clinically insignificant less pain than those receiving acupuncture at 12 and 18 h postoperatively , as the clinically significant pain difference between both groups was defined as >2/15 for PPMP .…”