Handgelenk-Knöchel-Akupunktur zur Prophylaxe von postoperativer Übelkeit und Erbrechen bei weiblichen Hochrisikopatientinnen: eine pragmatische, randomisierte, einfach verblindete, scheinkontrollierte Studie
Abstract
Background
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) affects up to 80% of high-risk patients, compromising Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) outcomes and prolonging hospitalization. This randomized controlled trial evaluated wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) efficacy for PONV prevention in high-risk female surgical patients.
Methods
This single-center, randomized, patient- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled trial enrolled female patients (aged 18-60 years, ASA I-II) scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia with documented motion sickness or previous PONV. Participants received either WAA (sterile needles at four standardized acupoints, 30-minute retention) or sham acupuncture postoperatively. The primary outcome was 24-h PONV incidence using the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (R-INVR).
Results
Among 132 patients (median age 41 years), WAA significantly reduced 24-h PONV incidence versus sham (42.4% vs. 71.2%; RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.42-0.82; p = 0.002). Median R-INVR scores were lower with WAA [0 (0-5) vs. 8 (0-11); p < 0.001]. WAA patients reported significantly reduced nausea/vomiting at 30 min, 6 h, and 24 h (all p ≤ 0.006) and higher satisfaction scores (p < 0.001). Antiemetic use was comparable (9.1% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.299). No adverse events occurred.
Conclusions
WAA significantly reduced PONV incidence and severity with sustained effects and improved satisfaction, offering a promising non-pharmacological prevention strategy.
Autoren
Liping Yu, Xiao Wang, Ling Mei, Jiangang Song, Wei Song, Hui Xue, Sicheng Wu, Jian Wang, Lili Li, Wenting Chen
Journal
Journal of Investigative Surgery
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08941939.2026.2652778
Quelle: Yu, L., Wang, X., Mei, L., Song, J., Song, W., Xue, H., Wu, S., Wang, J., Li, L., & Chen, W. (2026). Wrist-ankle acupuncture on postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis in high-risk female patients: a pragmatic, randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial. Journal of Investigative Surgery, 39(1), 2652778. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941939.2026.2652778