THE EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE ON NAUSEA AND VOMITING AND CONSUMPTION OF PROPOFOL IN CESAREAN SECTION PERFORMED WITH SPINAL ANESTHESIA

Objective: The incidence of hypotension is 50-60% in obstetric surgeries. The most frequent comorbid clinical case of hypotention is nausea and vomiting. In addition, the probability of vomiting and nausea is very high in the period in which the peritoneum is holden after the birth of newborn. We wanted to observe the effects on nausea and vomiting occuring due to both spinal anesthesia and traction of peritoneum during caesarean section performed under spinal anesthesia by using conventional acupuncture techniques. Material and Method: The study including 90 patients in the I-II risk groups of American Society of Anesthesiologists who will undergone caesarean section was planned. Acupuncture was performed for group A (n=45) by using acupuncture needles from the P6 acupuncture point. Similar application was performed for group P (n=45) by using acupuncture needles from a point 3 cm proximal to P6 point. In both practice, the needle was applied 20 mm depth of the skin and upholden for 30 minutes in the application area. Formation of nausea, vomiting and amount of propofol used was recorded for each patient. Results: The observation rate of nausea and vomiting in the group A was significantly lower (5, 33 (p<0.05); 2, 5 (p<0.05)). Propofol consumption rate was also significantly lower (4.6±11.7, 63.0±9.4 mg (p<0.05)). Conclusion: The acupuncture applied perioperatively on P6 point in order to prevent nausea and vomiting in the cesarean section performed with spinal anesthesia is an effective method and also reduces the amount of propofol which will be used to prevent intraoperative vomiting.