The effects of acupuncture after thyroid surgery: A randomized, controlled trial

Item

Title

The effects of acupuncture after thyroid surgery: A randomized, controlled trial

Author(s)

Journal Publication

Date

2014

volume

156(6)

pages

1605-12; discussion 1612-

Research Type

RCT

Keywords

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is a safe and well-tolerated treatment for pain relief. Previous studies supported the effectiveness of several acupuncture techniques for postoperative pain. The aim of this randomized, controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing pain after thyroid surgery. METHODS: We randomized 121 patients to a control group (undergoing only standard postoperative analgesic treatment with acetaminophen) and an acupuncture group, undergoing also either electroacupuncture (EA) or traditional acupuncture (TA). Pain was measured according to intraoperative remifentanil use, acetaminophen daily intake, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and McGill Pain Questionnaire on postoperative days (POD) 1-3. RESULTS: Acupuncture group required less acetaminophen than controls at POD 2 (P = .01) and 3 (P = .016). EA patients required less remifentanil (P = .032) and acetaminophen than controls at POD 2 (P = .004) and 3 (P = .008). EA patients showed a trend toward better NRS and McGill scores from POD 1 to 3 compared with controls. EA patients had a lower remifentanil requirement and better NRS and McGill scores than TA patients. No differences occurred between TA patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture may be effective in reducing pain after thyroid surgery. EA is more useful; TA achieves no significant effects.

doi

10.1016/j.surg.2014.08.062

pmid

Date of Input: 4/7/2015; Date Modified: 5/14/2015; Availability: --In File--; Priority: Normal; Pain, Postoperative; Minimally Invasive Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. maurizio.iacobone@unipd.it; eng; Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=25456960

has health condition studied

Pain

plan

>1/WK

has study population number

121

has duration

1 Day

Item sets