Ninety children undergoing dental treatment under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to one of the three equal groups, to receive acupuncture needle insertion, intravenous ondansetron 0.15 mg/kg or a placebo.
Sample Count
90
Age
4±12
Control
Placebo
placebo(n=30)
Experiment
acupuncture(n=30);ondansetron(n=30)
Indicator
Number of patients treated in the hospital for vomitingVomitingOvernight admissionsNumber of readmission daysParental satisfaction scores
Auxiliary Medication
Induction with halothane and nitrous oxide in oxygen was performed in the presence of the parents; an intravenous cannula was inserted after induction; intravenous atracurium 0.5 mg.kg-1 was given to facilitate nasotracheal intubation; intravenous atropine 0.02 mg.kg-1; anaesthesia was maintained with halothane in 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen and fentanyl in fractional doses of 1-2 ug.kg-1, the concentration of halothane being adjusted to maintain blood pressure and heart rate within 15% of baseline values. Residual neuromuscular block was reversed with intra- venous atropine 0.02 mg.kg -1 and neostigmine 0.06 mg.kg -1. At the end of surgery, all children received rectal paracetamol in a dose of 25 mg.kg-1 up to a maximum dose of 750 mg. Ondansetron group: These patients were given intravenous ondansetron 0.15 mg.kg -1, to a maximum dose of 8 mg, in normal saline 50 ml as an infusion over 20 min.
Stimulation Method
MS
Induction Method
Electroacupuncture Instrument Model
Manufacturer
Frequency
Waveform
Strength
Induction Time
-
-
-
-
-
15 min
Acupuncture_Needle
Needle_Manufacturer
Needle_Depth
0.22 mm-diameter
Hawatto, Suzhou, China
-
Description The needles were inserted in a sterile fashion immediately after induction of anaesthesia and remained in place for 15 min.
Anesthesia Method
GA
Clinical Trial Type
random
Adverse Effects
No complications other than emesiswere noted.
Contraindications
Exclusion criteria included:allergy to ondansetron; symptomatic medical illness;any anti-emetic therapy within 7 days of surgery;any infectious disease within the previous 2 weeks; local infection near an acupuncture point. Children who experienced any hypoxic (Spo2＜95%) or hypercapnic(FEco2＞6.0 kPa) episodes during anaesthesia were also excluded
Effector
Parental satisfaction scores and the incidence of emetic episodes were recorded. A significant difference was found in the number of patients who vomited and the total number of the emetic episodes when comparing the two treatment groups with the placebo group (p<0.0001). A significant difference was also found between the treatment groups and the placebo group with respect to parental satisfaction score (p<0.03). We conclude that traditional Chinese acupuncture is a valid non-pharmacological alternative anti-emetic treatment that can be recommended as a prophylactic technique in children undergoing dental surgery under general anaesthesia.
Acupuncture versus ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative vomiting. A study of children undergoing dental surgery.
Abstract
This study compares the anti-emetic effect of acupuncture with that of ondansetron and a placebo. Ninety children undergoing dental treatment under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to one of the three equal groups, to receive acupuncture needle insertion, intravenous ondansetron 0.15 mg x kg(-1) or a placebo. Parental satisfaction scores and the incidence of emetic episodes were recorded. A significant difference was found in the number of patients who vomited and the total number of the emetic episodes when comparing the two treatment groups with the placebo group (p < 0.0001). A significant difference was also found between the treatment groups and the placebo group with respect to parental satisfaction score (p < 0.03). We conclude that traditional Chinese acupuncture is a valid non-pharmacological alternative anti-emetic treatment that can be recommended as a prophylactic technique in children undergoing dental surgery under general anaesthesia."
