Abstract
Background. Acupuncture is a safe and well-tolerated treatment for pain relief. Previous studies supported the effectiveness of several acupuncture techniques for postoperative pain. The aim of this randomized, controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing pain after thyroid surgery. Methods. We randomized 121 patients to a control group (undergoing only standard postoperative analgesic treatment with acetaminophen) and an acupuncture group, undergoing also either electroacupuncture (EA) or traditional acupuncture (TA). Pain was measured according to intraoperative remifentanil use, acetaminophen daily intake, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and McGill Pain Questionnaire on postoperative days (POD) 1-3. Results. Acupuncture group required less acetaminophen than controls at POD 2 (P = .01) and 3 (P = .016). EA patients required less remifentanil (P = .032) and acetaminophen than controls at POD 2 (P = .004) and 3 (P = .008). EA patients showed a trend toward better NRS and McGill scores from POD 1 to 3 compared with controls. EA patients had a lower remifentanil requirement and better NRS and McGill scores than TA patients. No differences occurred between TA patients and controls. Conclusion. Acupuncture may be effective in reducing pain after thyroid surgery. EA is more useful; TA achieves no significant effects.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1605-1612 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Surgery |
| Volume | 156 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
The effects of acupuncture after thyroid surgery : A randomized, controlled trial. / Iacobone, Maurizio; Citton, Marilisa; Zanella, Simone; Scarpa, Marco; Pagura, Giulia; Tropea, Saveria; Galligioni, Helmut; Ceccherelli, Francesco; Feltracco, Paolo; Viel, Giovanni; Nitti, Donato.
In: Surgery, Vol. 156, No. 6, 2014, p. 1605-1612.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of acupuncture after thyroid surgery
T2 - A randomized, controlled trial
AU - Iacobone, Maurizio
AU - Citton, Marilisa
AU - Zanella, Simone
AU - Scarpa, Marco
AU - Pagura, Giulia
AU - Tropea, Saveria
AU - Galligioni, Helmut
AU - Ceccherelli, Francesco
AU - Feltracco, Paolo
AU - Viel, Giovanni
AU - Nitti, Donato
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Background. Acupuncture is a safe and well-tolerated treatment for pain relief. Previous studies supported the effectiveness of several acupuncture techniques for postoperative pain. The aim of this randomized, controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing pain after thyroid surgery. Methods. We randomized 121 patients to a control group (undergoing only standard postoperative analgesic treatment with acetaminophen) and an acupuncture group, undergoing also either electroacupuncture (EA) or traditional acupuncture (TA). Pain was measured according to intraoperative remifentanil use, acetaminophen daily intake, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and McGill Pain Questionnaire on postoperative days (POD) 1-3. Results. Acupuncture group required less acetaminophen than controls at POD 2 (P = .01) and 3 (P = .016). EA patients required less remifentanil (P = .032) and acetaminophen than controls at POD 2 (P = .004) and 3 (P = .008). EA patients showed a trend toward better NRS and McGill scores from POD 1 to 3 compared with controls. EA patients had a lower remifentanil requirement and better NRS and McGill scores than TA patients. No differences occurred between TA patients and controls. Conclusion. Acupuncture may be effective in reducing pain after thyroid surgery. EA is more useful; TA achieves no significant effects.
AB - Background. Acupuncture is a safe and well-tolerated treatment for pain relief. Previous studies supported the effectiveness of several acupuncture techniques for postoperative pain. The aim of this randomized, controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing pain after thyroid surgery. Methods. We randomized 121 patients to a control group (undergoing only standard postoperative analgesic treatment with acetaminophen) and an acupuncture group, undergoing also either electroacupuncture (EA) or traditional acupuncture (TA). Pain was measured according to intraoperative remifentanil use, acetaminophen daily intake, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and McGill Pain Questionnaire on postoperative days (POD) 1-3. Results. Acupuncture group required less acetaminophen than controls at POD 2 (P = .01) and 3 (P = .016). EA patients required less remifentanil (P = .032) and acetaminophen than controls at POD 2 (P = .004) and 3 (P = .008). EA patients showed a trend toward better NRS and McGill scores from POD 1 to 3 compared with controls. EA patients had a lower remifentanil requirement and better NRS and McGill scores than TA patients. No differences occurred between TA patients and controls. Conclusion. Acupuncture may be effective in reducing pain after thyroid surgery. EA is more useful; TA achieves no significant effects.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84922418188&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84922418188&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.surg.2014.08.062
DO - 10.1016/j.surg.2014.08.062
M3 - Article
C2 - 25456960
AN - SCOPUS:84922418188
VL - 156
SP - 1605
EP - 1612
JO - Surgery
JF - Surgery
SN - 0039-6060
IS - 6
ER -