Anesth Pain Med.  2016 Apr;11(2):160-165. 10.17085/apm.2016.11.2.160.

Effect of capsicum plaster at the P6 acupoint on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery

• Kim JM
• Kim KS
• Koo MS
• Kwon MY
• Kim GH
• Kim JE
• Yun MJ
• Lee SY

• KMID: 2358478
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17085/apm.2016.11.2.160

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We evaluated the efficacy of capsicum plaster, applied to the Chinese acupuncture point (acupoint) Pericardium 6 (P6), in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).
METHODS
One hundred and fifty patients scheduled for ESS were randomly placed in one of 3 groups. Each group had 50 patients. Inactive tape was affixed at both P6 acupoints and both shoulders in the control (placebo) group. Capsicum plaster was affixed at both P6 acupoints and inactive tape was affixed at both shoulders in the capsicum plaster (P6) group. Capsicum plaster was affixed at both shoulders and inactive tape at both P6 acupoints in the sham group. Plasters and tapes were affixed before the induction and removed 8 hours after surgery.
RESULTS
The incidence of PONV and requirement for antiemetics were significantly lower in the P6 group than in the control and sham groups during the 24 hours after surgery. At postoperative 0-24 hour, nausea was 42% in the control group, 2% in the P6 group, and 38% in the sham group. Postoperative vomiting was 28%, 0% and 26%, respectively, and the use of antiemetics was 34%, 0% and 32%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Stimulation of the P6 acupoint with capsicum plaster is effective for preventing PONV at postoperative 0-24 hour in patients undergoing ESS.

Keyword

Acupoint pericardium 6; Antiemetic; Capsaicin; Endoscopic sinus surgery; Postoperative nausea and vomiting

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture Points*
Antiemetics
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Capsaicin
Capsicum*
Humans
Incidence
Nausea
Pericardium
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting*
Shoulder
Antiemetics
Capsaicin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flow diagram of participants. Control (Placabo) group patients have inactive tape at both Pericardium 6 (P6) acupoints and both shoulders. Capsicum group patients have capsicum plaster at both P6 acupoints and inactive tape at both shoulers. Sham group patients have capsicum plaster at both shoulders and inactive tape at both P6 acupoints. ESS: endoscopic sinus surgery.

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