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Acupressure as adjuvant treatment for the inpatient management of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: A double‐blind randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Adlan AizuraSyafinaz,
Chooi Kar Yoke,
Mat Adenan Noor Azmi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/jog.13269
Subject(s) - acupressure , medicine , retching , nausea , hyperemesis gravidarum , vomiting , pregnancy , anesthesia , placebo , ketonuria , randomized controlled trial , acupuncture point , acupuncture , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology , biology , insulin , genetics
Aim To evaluate the efficacy of acupressure at the Neiguan point (Pericardium [P]6) as adjuvant treatment during inpatient management of severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Methods Low risk, spontaneously conceived singleton pregnancies were randomly assigned to a treatment group, who received an acupressure band placed at the Neiguan point (P6) or a placebo group who received an otherwise identical non‐stimulating wristband. Participants wore the band for 12 h daily for the first three days of admission. The primary outcome measure was the severity of symptoms of nausea, vomiting and retching, recorded according to Pregnancy‐Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea score. Results There was a statistically significant improvement in Pregnancy‐Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea scores from day 1 until day 3 of admission in the treatment group compared with the placebo. Patients who received Neiguan point acupressure also showed a significant improvement in their ketonuria scores. The treatment group required a shorter hospital stay compared with the placebo. The only reported side effect of the acupressure band was redness on the wrist. Conclusions The use of the acupressure band at the Neiguan point (P6) for 12 h daily for three days for inpatients with hyperemesis gravidarum significantly reduced the symptoms of nausea, vomiting and retching and ketonuria and led to a reduction in hospital stay. We recommend the use of the acupressure band at the Neiguan point (P6) as an adjunct/supplementary therapy to co‐exist with the standard care of management for hyperemesis gravidarum, particularly in low‐risk pregnant women.