The acupuncture for use in the prevention of nausea and vomiting post-operative

• Grant number: 15/21600-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Norma Sueli Pinheiro Módolo
• Grantee: Rafael Eiki Takemura
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

There's about one in four patients having nausea and vomiting after surgery (NVAS), being among the main complications feared by patients, surgeons and anesthetists. However, the antiemetic drugs have limited effectiveness and side effects. Furthermore, this topic becomes more important because it results in a significant increase in the costs related to the drugs, additional fluids and longer hospital stays .In this context, studies already showed positive results in acupressure on the P6 point (Neiguam) to nausea and vomiting control of diverse causes. However, this efficacy is still controversial, because even the strongest evidences are the result of single-blind studies. So we will do a prospective randomized clinical trial in elective hysterectomy on women, aiming to assess the NVAS frequency and the antiemetic action using the acupuncture P6 point 30 minutes before the surgery, comparing the results between bilateral needle and placebo needle. Anesthesia is induced with sufentanil and etomidate or propofol, and will be maintained with continuous inhalation of isoflurane and remifentanil. Every patient will receive antiemetic therapy after anesthetic induction with dexamethasone and at the end of the procedure with ondasetron. Two blood tests will be collected: one before and another after acupuncture stimulation for serotonin and dopamine analysis, since the hypothesis is that these concentrations will be increased after stimulation.