Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation versus Acupressure on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting after Abdominal Hysterectomy

Aims: To compare between the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation versus Acupressure on post-operative nausea and vomiting in women scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Kasr El-Aini University Hospital, and outpatient clinic of faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, between July 2012 and January 2013.
Methodology: We included 150 patients (age ranged 45-65 years) with post-operative nausea and vomiting after abdominal hysterectomy, their body mass index was less than 30 kg/m2 without medical history of gastrointestinal diseases. Patients were equally divided into three groups. Group (A), received trancutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS10Hz was applied on the P6 point of the dominant hand 30min before induction of anesthesia and continued for 8 h postoperatively) in addition to post operative anti-emetic drug. In group (B), acupressure (elastic wrist bands with a sphere to apply pressure on P6 point) was performed exactly in the same way as in group (A) in addition to post operative anti-emetic drug. Patients of group (C) received post operative anti-emetic drug only. Post-operative metoclopramid 10mg/iv was administrated for all patients in groups (A, B & C) as antiemetic. Assessment of all patients in all groups (A, B&C) was carried out after 4h and 8h of the treatment through Mc Gill assessment for postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Results: Showed a statistically more significant decrease (P<.0001) in nausea and vomiting scales for group A than both groups B&C after 4 and 8 hours.
Conclusion: Trancutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation of P6 point appears to be more effective than acupressure in alleviating post-operative nausea and vomiting after abdominal hysterectomy.