Acupressure wristbands for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults undergoing cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the application of acupressure bands would lead to a reduction in postoperative nausea and vomiting after cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

SETTING

University-affiliated tertiary care teaching hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

One hundred fifty-two patients were enrolled to receive either acupressure treatment (n = 75) or placebo (n = 77). All patients had acupressure bands placed on both wrists before induction of anesthesia; those in the treatment group had a bead placed in contact with the P6 point on the forearm.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Patients were assessed for nausea, vomiting, and pain scores during the first 24 hours of the postoperative period. The incidences of nausea, vomiting, pain scores, and analgesic and antiemetic requirements were similar between the 2 groups. A subgroup analysis by gender implied that acupressure treatment may be effective only in female patients.

CONCLUSION

Acupressure treatment did not lead to a reduction in nausea, vomiting, or antiemetic requirements in patients after cardiac surgery.