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.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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 927-932 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Anaesthesia |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine