Needle-Free Electroacupuncture for Postoperative Pain Management
2011

Needle-Free Electroacupuncture for Postoperative Pain Management

Sample size: 47 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Lee Daniel, Xu Hong, Lin Jaung-Geng, Watson Kerry, Wu Rick Sai Chuen, Chen Kuen-Bao

Primary Institution: Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

Hypothesis

The effects of needle-free electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia on subjects recovering from hysterectomies would be greater than the control groups.

Conclusion

Silver spike point needle-free electroacupuncture has shown to have positive effects for postoperative pain management.

Supporting Evidence

  • Group 4 showed significantly lower pain scores compared to Groups 1, 2, and 3 at 24 hours.
  • Significant differences in PCA doses were found between the groups.
  • VAS scores indicated a decreasing trend in pain over the 24-hour period.

Takeaway

This study found that a special type of acupuncture without needles can help women feel less pain after surgery.

Methodology

A double-blind, sham and different intervention controlled clinical experimental design with 47 women randomly allocated to four groups.

Potential Biases

None reported.

Limitations

The initial plan was to recruit 60 subjects, but only 49 enrolled, which may affect the generalizability of the results.

Participant Demographics

Forty-nine consenting females undergoing a hysterectomy, mean age 42.02 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1155/2011/696754

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