A comparative study of intravenous ondansetron and P6 acupressure for the reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgeries

Abstract

Background & Objective: Post-operative nausea and vomiting is one of the major problems faced by the anesthesiologists in patients recovering from anesthesia and surgery. A variety of antiemetics have need tried to prevent and control it with variable success. Traditional Chinese Medicine advocates stimulation of P-6, or Neiguan, acupressure point. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of intravenous ondansetron with P-6 acupressure stimulation in prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting after elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methodology: After approval from the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB), 80 patients of ASA II and III, aged 18 to 60 y, planned for elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups by the lottery method. Group A (n = 40) received inj. ondansetron 0.15 mg/kg IV and in Group B (n = 40) acupressure was applied on pressure point P-6. Both groups received IV dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg intraoperatively. Balanced general anesthesia was given and intraoperative vitals were recorded at regular intervals. The incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting was recorded during first 24 h postoperatively. Results: No significant difference in the number of patients having nausea and vomiting or the severity of vomiting during 24 h post-operative period was found between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In this study we did not find a statistically significant difference between P-6 acupressure stimulation and intravenous ondansetron in the prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting after elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Abbreviations: PONV - Post-operative nausea and vomiting.