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Ann Thorac Surg 2006;81:2031-2036
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Original article: General thoracic

Analgesic Effect of Electroacupuncture in Postthoracotomy Pain: A Prospective Randomized Trial

^a Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, SAR, China
^b Department of Anesthesiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, SAR, China
^c Department of Physiotherapy, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, SAR, China

Accepted for publication December 21, 2005.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Yim, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, SAR, China (Email: yimap{at}cuhk.edu.hk).

BACKGROUND: The role of electroacupuncture in postthoracotomy pain control is uncertain. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the role of electroacupuncture in the management of early postthoracotomy wound pain.

METHODS: A total of 27 patients with operable non–small cell lung carcinoma who received thoracotomy were recruited and randomized to receive either electroacupuncture or sham acupuncture in addition to routine oral analgesics and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for postoperative pain control. All patients received acupuncture twice daily with visual analog pain score recorded for the first 7 postoperative days. Specific chest acupoints (LI 4, GB 34, GB 36, and TE 8) were targeted. Patient-controlled analgesia was used for the first 3 postoperative days in all patients, and the cumulative dosage used was recorded.

RESULTS: Two patients were excluded after randomization because of complications unrelated to acupuncture. Interventions and data collection were completed for the remaining 25 patients (13 in the electroacupuncture group; 12 in the sham acupuncture group). There was a trend for lower visual analog scale pain scores in the electro-acupuncture group between postoperative days 2 and 6, although this did not reach statistical significance. The cumulative dose of patient-controlled analgesia morphine used on postoperative day 2 was significantly lower in the electroacupuncture group (7.5 ± 5 mg versus 15.6 ± 12 mg; p < 0.05). Such delay of onset of pain control may be related to the frequency of electroacupuncture used.

CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture may reduce narcotic analgesic usage in the early postoperative period. A prospective randomized controlled trial using different electroacupuncture frequency is warranted to verify this benefit.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Sun, T. J. Gan, J. W. Dubose, and A. S. Habib Acupuncture and related techniques for postoperative pain: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Br. J. Anaesth., August 1, 2008; 101(2): 151 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]