Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background & Aim: Nausea and vomiting after surgery are among major side effects. Frequency of these events is reported between 40-75%. There are various ways to control these events after surgery. For many years acupuncture has been used in the treatment of diseases in China and today its alternative procedure, acupressure, is used in the treatment of some diseases. There are a number of reports of nausea and vomiting control with acupressure. Patients & Methods: The purpose of the present randomized clinical trial study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupressure in control of postoperative nausea and vomiting. With calculating case volume, 88 women in gravidity ages undergoing laparascopy were divided into two 44 case groups. For one group acupressure was used and the other group received usual therapy. Then nausea and vomiting in recovery and 6 hrs after surgery and the severity of these symptoms were recorded and then statistically analysized via chi-square test & t-test. Results: Age and weight were not statistically different between two groups. Overall frequency of nausea and vomiting was 43.2%. In recovery this was 15.9%, and after 6 hrs 42.8% cases had mild nausea, 12 had moderate and 17 had severe vomiting. In acupressure group these measures were in 16, 6, 15, 6 and 5 cases. In control group these were 22, 8, 22, 4, 6 and 12. Differences in cases were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Acupressure does not have any important role in the control of postoperative nausea and vomiting, but low cost and side effect as well as free procedure make it be applicable along with other procedures.