[Effect of auricular point pressing combined with electroacupuncture on postoperative pain and inflammatory cytokines in children with hernia].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical efficacy and action mechanism of auricular point pressing combined with electroacupuncture (EA) on postoperative pain in children with hernia.

METHODS

A total of 93 children with inguinal hernia were randomly divided into an auricular point group, an EA group and a combination group, 31 cases in each group. All the three groups were treated with routine postoperative treatment and nursing, and analgesic and sedative drugs were used when necessary. After awaking, the children in the auricular point group were treated with auricular point pressing at Shenmen (TF), Jiaogan (AH) and Pizhixia (AT); the seeds of cowherb were placed at the auricular points and the same nurse used index finger and thumbs to press the points for 2 min, and repeated after 30 min. The pressing time was 8-11 AM and 14-17 PM for 3 days. The children in the EA group were treated with EA at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36); the needles were perpendicularly inserted with mild reinforcing-reducing method; EA instrument was connected with needles and the current intensity was under the maximal tolerance of children; the needles were retained for 20 min, three times a day for continuous 3 days. The children in the combination group were treated with auricular point pressing and EA for 3 days. The Wong-Baker facial expression evaluation method was used to observe the pain scores 1-3 h, 4-24 h, 25-48 h and 49-72 h after operation; the contents of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 were compared 1 day, 2 days and 3 days after operation; the number of cases using sedative drugs and average hospitalization days were compared among the three groups.

RESULTS

①Among the children aged 8-15 years old, the pain scores 4-24 h and 25-48 h after operation in the combination group were lower than those in the auricular point group and the EA group (all <0.05); among the children aged 4-7 years old, differences of the pain scores in each time after operation were not significant statistically among the three groups (all >0.05). ②The contents of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in serum 1 day, 2 days and 3 days after operation in the combination group were lower than those in the auricular point group and the EA group (all <0.05). ③The number of cases using analgesic and sedative drugs after operation in the combination group was fewer than that in the auricular point group and the EA group (all <0.05). ④The average hospitalization days in the combination group were shorter than those in the auricular point group and the EA group (all <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared with auricular point pressing or EA alone, the combination of auricular point pressing and EA could not only effectively relieve the postoperative pain, but also reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines in children with hernia, improving the clinical efficacy.