Postoperative pain and respiratory function in patients treated with electroacupuncture following coronary surgery

Objectives: To evaluate respiratory function andpain score in patients undergoing coronary by pass procedures during the first 7 postoperative days.Methods: The study was carried out as a case-control study between April 2008 and April 2009 in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Firat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey. Thirty patients,who had undergone a median sternotomy (MS) forcoronary artery by pass graft, were randomized to either the electro acupuncture and pharmacologic analgesia(acupuncture) group, or the pharmacologic analgesia alone (control) group. In each group, severity of pain,analgesic intake, respiratory function, and pulmonary complications were recorded. Pethidine hydrochloride and metamizole sodium were administered Results: Of the 30 subjects, 15 were in the control group and 15 in the acupuncture group. There were no statistically significant differences between the2 groups in terms of age and gender. Statistically significant differences in metamizole, pethidine,days 3, 5, 6, and 7 visual analogue scale scores were observed between the acupuncture and control groups. Postoperative complications (atelectasia) were observed in 2 (13.3%) patients, one (6.6%) in eachgroup. The post operative forced expiratory volume inone second /forced vital capacity value was higher than the preoperative value in the acupuncture group.Conclusions: Electro acupuncture was more effective than control treatments in decreasing pain and limiting opioid and non-opioid medication intake during the first 7 post operative days following MS.